Important Statistics and Insights from Constella Intelligence’s Digital Security Report

Constella Intelligence’s latest report on digital security highlights the ever-growing threat of ransomware, malware, phishing, and a slew of additional cyber threats. Whether you are a business owner or manager, own a single computer in your own home, or are limited to a tablet or smartphone, it is in your best interest to be aware of the emerging digital threats and the industry’s top digital security defenses. Here’s a quick look at some of the most important digital security statistics and details, as highlighted in the latest Constella report.

The Top 20 Breaches

According to Constella, the top 20 data breaches and leaks primarily pertain to app-based businesses and internet companies in which a considerable amount of consumer data was exposed to malevolent individuals on the dark web. The threat intelligence specialists at Constella ranked the breaches from the year gone by, highlighting those that exposed the most significant amount of personal data and records. Aside from app-focused companies and internet specialists, the most significant data breaches were suffered by businesses in the e-commerce, gaming, and general technology segments.  

For example, JD.com, a web business and internet consumer electronics e-tailer; Raychat.io, a messaging and customer service platform connecting businesses with customers; and Carinfo.app, the top RTO automobile specialist in India, top the list of most impactful breaches in 2021. Constella’s threat intelligence crew also identifies Genoitro.com, a document productivity business, and Actmobile.com, a tech solutions provider and VPN specialist, as additional websites hit especially hard by online attacks in the previous year.

Sectors Targeted the Most in 2021

Constella’s threat intelligence collective noted that the banking and finance sectors were lambasted in 2021 with 123.8% more digital attacks throughout the year than the previous year. Furthermore, the healthcare industry was also hit hard with an increase of nearly 62% in attacks on a year-over-year basis.  

The travel industry endured a 70% jump in digital attacks during the year. The somewhat shady cryptocurrency industry also ranked toward the top of the list of most digitally violated industries, with slightly more than a 71% increase in breaches and leakages in 2021 compared with 2020.

Interestingly, general services providers suffered nearly 50% more breaches and leakages from 2020 to 2021. Conversely, government breaches and leakages dropped by almost 19% in that same period. Furthermore, companies in the education sector also enjoyed a decline in breaches and leakages, with the rate dropping slightly more than 36% from one year to the next. However, the healthcare segment, retail space, forums/referrals, and media/entertainment sectors suffered a considerable hike in leakages and breaches from 2020 to 2021.

Digital Security Breach Frequency by Country

Let’s shift our attention to companies in different parts of the world most affected by online attacks. To no one’s surprise, the United States suffered more digital security breaches and leakages than any other country. The country attacked second-most frequently in the digital realm was India. Russia, France, and Poland rounded out the top five countries that suffered the most breaches in 2021.  

It is interesting to note that China ranks 10th of the countries with the most digital security breaches throughout the year. However, it must be noted China has a totalitarian government that might not reveal the truth about the full breadth of its digital security shortcomings.