YAHOO! Databreach (2014)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Background:

In 2014, Yahoo, the multinational technology company known for its web services, fell victim to a major cyber attack. The breach resulted in the compromise of a staggering number of user accounts, leading to severe consequences for both Yahoo and its users.

DETAILS

• Yahoo informed the FBI in 2014 about 26 of its accounts being compromised, but it was in late 2016 that a much larger breach occurred, surpassing the 2014 incident and becoming the most significant hack ever recorded. Russian-affiliated hackers successfully infiltrated Yahoo's user database and gained access to the Account Management Tool.

• In March 2017, Yahoo made the announcement that the security breach had affected a staggering number of users, revealing that all 3 billion user accounts had been compromised.

• After conducting an investigation lasting over two years, the FBI concluded that out of the four individuals implicated, two were identified as Russian spies: Dmitry Dokuchaev and Igor Sushchin. The remaining two individuals were Aleksey Belan, a hacker from Latvia, and a commercial hacker named Karim Baratov, both of whom were recruited by the Russian agents.

    

• The precision of the attack was such that it took the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation a span of two years to comprehend the complete magnitude of the breach. Unfortunately, by that time, the data of Yahoo users had already been made available for sale on the Dark web.

 

 WORKING METHOD

• A single erroneous click was all it took to disrupt Yahoo's entire system. In 2014, an email with spear-phishing tactics was directed towards employees, and the consequences were triggered by just one person clicking on that link. This simple action granted access to the email messages and personal information of around 500 million individuals.

• The hackers implanted a backdoor into Yahoo's server as a means of maintaining uninterrupted access. In December 2014, they proceeded to pilfer a backup copy of the user database. By leveraging the recovery email addresses and email domains, they were able to pinpoint the specific targets sought by the Russian spies. Through the utilization of cryptographic values, also referred to as 'nonces,' they generated access cookies that granted the hackers unrestricted entry into a user's email account, all without requiring a password.

• Included in the compromised information were names, phone numbers, birthdates, unique cryptographic values associated with each account, password recovery emails, and the corresponding password challenge questions and answers.

•  It impacted over 3 Billion accounts.

 

LESSONS LEARNED AND PRECAUTIONS SHOULD BE TAKEN

• Promptly report the breach to security agencies and take immediate action.
  

• Place significant emphasis on cybersecurity training to protect against phishing attacks.

• Regularly maintain your mailbox by removing unnecessary data.

• Avoid providing genuine data or answers to security questions whenever feasible.

• Continuously monitor your email forwarding rules for any unauthorized changes.

• Refrain from reusing passwords across multiple accounts.

• Exercise caution when dealing with emails, opening only those from trusted sources
  

• Timely detection and response to security incidents.

• Heightened employee training and awareness to combat phishing attacks.

• Regular data hygiene practices, including mailbox cleaning and minimizing the use of personal data for security questions.

• Constant vigilance against phishing emails and careful evaluation of email sources

   

  Conclusion: 

  The Yahoo data breach of 2014 serves as a significant wake-up call for organizations and individuals alike. It highlights the critical importance of implementing robust security measures, timely incident response, and user education to protect against ever-evolving cyber threats. By understanding the details of this case, we can enhance our cybersecurity practices and strive for a more secure digital landscape.