Cybersecurity incidents have increasingly targeted both individuals and organizations globally, exploiting vulnerabilities in software and systems. These attacks often result in unauthorized access to sensitive information, financial data, and personal records.
Method of Infection: Exploited a zero-day vulnerability in a third-party file-sharing system (Accellion FTA) used by Singtel.
Effects on Devices: Personal data of 129,000 customers, bank account information of 28 former employees, and credit card details of 45 staff of a corporate customer were stolen
Date of Occurrence: February 2021
Example: Singtel Data Breach
Ransomware Attack
Method of Infection: Attackers gained privileged access to the IT network by compromising a front-end workstation and obtained login credentials to access the database.
Effects on Devices: Personal particulars of 1.5 million patients and records of outpatient dispensed medicines belonging to 160,000 patients were stolen
Date of Occurrence: June to July 2018
Location: Singapore
Example: 2018 SingHealth Data Breach
SPYWARE
Method of Infection: Typically delivered through malicious links in messages, exploiting vulnerabilities in mobile operating systems.
Effects on Devices: Allowed attackers to access messages, emails, microphone, camera, and other sensitive data on infected smartphones.
Date of Occurrence: First discovered in August 2016; multiple incidents reported subsequently.
Location: Global
Example: Pegasus Spyware
virus
Effects on Devices: Encrypted files on infected computers, rendering them inaccessible.