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Male hacker coding.
- A slew of data breaches, exploits, and backdoor hacks have compromised the private data of hundreds of millions of users in 2019 so far.
- Growing trends include supply-chain attacks, where hackers break into a company's software that's in turn distributed to clients, and ransomware, which can take your computer virtually hostage until you pay a ransom.
- Most high-profile hacks this year seem motivated by money, but a few have been traced to governments across the globe aiming to surveil individuals.
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Nearly nine months in, 2019 has been a banner year for cybersecurity crises, with hackers targeting government agencies and private corporations alike.
Data breaches are not a new phenomenon, and federal agencies have acknowledged the constant threat of exploits. But 2019 has seen unprecedented attacks, including on systems that were previously seen as impenetrable, like Apple's iOS.
Most high-profile hacks this year were done with clear monetary aims, rather than carried out by spies or hacktivists. On a few occasions, however, hacks have been traced to governments across the globe attempting to surveil individuals.
Last week, the US Department of
Here's a look at the biggest hacks - representing the most users affected or the most impressive feats of hacking - from 2019 so far.