8 Events That Changed Cybersecurity Forever

Milestone incidents are what made cybersecurity what it is today - these are the top 8 events that changed cybersecurity, and why they (still) matter.
Michael Buckbee
1 min read
Last updated July 7, 2023

Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” – George Santayana

The first computer virus was created in the early 1970s and was detected on ARPANET, the predecessor to the internet. In 1988 the first computer worm was distributed, gaining mass mainstream media attention. A quarter of a century later and viruses have evolved to become a pandemic. Viruses have proliferated quickly and malware has become more complex.

Discover your weak points and strengthen your resilience: Run a Free Ransomware Readiness Test

Cyber attacks happen daily and are constantly evolving. From computer worms to large data breaches, attacks come in all shapes and sizes. In the past quarter century alone, cyber attacks have evolved from tiny hacks created by high-school students to state-sponsored attacks compromising presidential elections.

While threats continue to develop, so does the defense against them. It’s important to remember these past events in order to combat impending attacks. Milestone incidents are what made cybersecurity what it is today – take a look at the top 8 events that changed cybersecurity, and why they (still) matter.

Events That Changed Cybersecurity Forever

Though new cyber attacks appear each day, these top 8 watershed moments had a major impact on security and have led to where we are today. Here are just a few lessons we can learn from cybersecurity history.

  1. Never assume it won’t happen to you: Anyone and everyone is susceptible when it comes to data – whether it’s stored in the cloud or on premises.
  2. Hackers come from all over: Attacks no longer comes exclusively from hackers in their parents’ basements. They have evolved geographically, advanced in sophistication, and the amount of attacks from overseas has increased drastically.
  3. Insiders are just as dangerous: Vulnerabilities now come from the inside as well. All it takes is one click on a phishing email. Educate your employees on basic cybersecurity terms so that they are able to protect themselves and the company.
  4. Hackers are not going away: With change in technology comes change in crime — and cybercriminals are working harder than ever. It’s important to always be alert and keep up with important trends in order to keep you and your organization as safe as possible.

Unfortunately, the number of cyber attacks is only going to continue increase, and the impact of those attacks is becoming more significant than ever. It’s important to arm ourselves with what we can: learn from the past and protect your data first, not last.

Uncover your biggest security risks with a data risk assessment – and see how Varonis helps protect your data from the next generation of cyber attacks.

Infographic Sources:
Infosecurity, CSO, Verizon Data Breach Report, Wikipedia, TheGuardian

What should I do now?

Below are three ways you can continue your journey to reduce data risk at your company:

1

Schedule a demo with us to see Varonis in action. We'll personalize the session to your org's data security needs and answer any questions.

2

See a sample of our Data Risk Assessment and learn the risks that could be lingering in your environment. Varonis' DRA is completely free and offers a clear path to automated remediation.

3

Follow us on LinkedIn, YouTube, and X (Twitter) for bite-sized insights on all things data security, including DSPM, threat detection, AI security, and more.

Try Varonis free.

Get a detailed data risk report based on your company’s data.
Deploys in minutes.

Keep reading

Varonis tackles hundreds of use cases, making it the ultimate platform to stop data breaches and ensure compliance.

which-cybersecurity-career-is-right-for-me?
Which Cybersecurity Career Is Right For Me?
Finding the right career path in the cybersecurity industry isn’t always easy. We interviewed cybersecurity experts to find out what inspired them!
12-ted-talks-that-will-change-the-way-you-look-at-business-cybersecurity
12 TED Talks That Will Change the Way You Look at Business Cybersecurity
The world of business cybersecurity is always changing. Stay on top of trends and ahead of threats with our 12 favorite cybersecurity TED talks.
how-to-turn-cybersecurity-jargon-into-a-language-everyone-in-your-office-can-speak
How to Turn Cybersecurity Jargon into a Language Everyone in Your Office Can Speak
Cybersecurity jargon can be confusing, but it's imperative that every member of your organization — not just the IT department — understands what they mean. In this article, we explain how to translate 10 cybersecurity buzzwords for everyone in your office.
5-cybersecurity-concerns-of-industry-insiders
5 Cybersecurity Concerns of Industry Insiders
We asked professionals attending two of the world’s biggest cybersecurity conferences – RSA in San Francisco and Infosecurity in London – five questions to gauge their opinions and attitudes about current cybersecurity concerns and issues. Read on to discover what we found!