World’s Biggest Data Breaches & Hacks | Information is Beautiful

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This interactive ‘Balloon Race’ code is powered by our forthcoming VizSweet software – a set of high-end dataviz tools for generating interactive visualisations. We’re currently in pre-alpha. Find out more.

Subject

Credits

Design & concept: David McCandless
Code: Tom Evans
Tech: VizSweet Balloon Race
Research: Miriam Quick, Ella Hollowood, Christian Miles, Dan Hampson

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Show comments

cig

Is there a static version? It shows “viz loading please wait” for longer than anyone could decently wait on all browsers I’ve tried.
someguy

Stuck at “Viz loading, please wait.”

Error console says:

Uncaught TypeError: Cannot read property ‘highlight’ of undefined balloonrace.min.js:1
Uncaught TypeError: Cannot read property ‘checked’ of undefined processing-1.4.0.min.js:13
- David_Beautiful
  
  fixed now. We hit some kind of limit with Google Docs access.
  - your name.
    
    I stuck too.
  - SheldonCooper666
    
    Hi, it was working yesterday but not today. Help?
Hugh

DropBox?
Jean

You can add “OVH” today: http://travaux.ovh.net/?do=details&id=8998

All europeans accounts are stolen
111san

why isn’t the US military bubble categorized under anything specific like “insider job” and so on? It only shows up in the “All” option. This isn’t accurate/complete.
- guest
  
  now it is. Errors happen. Like this report tells you. Stop ranting. EOT.
Damon

Viz is not showing
Sol

Is this info US only? Here’s another (from New Zealand) Hells Pizza – small leak (230,000) but largest in NZ: http://nakedsecurity.sophos.com/2010/07/23/hell-pizza-security-breach-extra-passwords/
nikosal

It is an interesting idea, but how much accurate? In one of the latest leaks at the chart, at ubuntu forums, we read (…) Ubuntu, “br {mso-data-placement:same-cell;}A popular alternative, open-source operating system” and then “July 2013: the passwords were cryptographically scrambled using the MD5 hashing algorithm – considered an inadequate means of protecting stored passwords, by security experts” then the number “2,000,000” is given. So, the reader will believe that 2 m machines using ubuntu were hacked, when what actually happened was that a web forum for ubuntu users, built in vbulletin software was hacked and the id, passwords and mails of 2 m users were retrieved. So nothing to do with ubuntu, the OS. I wonder if the rest of the info is equally distorted.
- David_Beautiful
  
  Thanks for the helpful clarification. I’ve amended the text.
vibodha

“click to see original report” doesn’t work, would like to see these, thanks
James

I’ve tried on multiple computers, it’s coming up with your snake oil food graphic, although the URL is correct.
Rick

It doesn’t like my iPad. Stuck at “Viz is loading.”
David Leppik

One bug: the bubble click/hover target is about 200 pixels to the left of the bubble for me. (Safari on OS X 10.8.4.)
The_Dude

Very compelling visualization! Would be great to see an indication of what type of data was stolen, e.g. passwords, payment info, etc.
Anon

What about Epsilon in 2011? http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/04/04/us-citi-capitalone-data-idUSTRE7321PI20110404
reader

I’m getting the visual for “Snake Oil Superfoods” instead of the breach one now. Just FYI!
TJ

method of leak by color needs a decoder ring for the colors!
iBlume

You should also add the HBGary hack. For further info see here http://sco.lt/5XfAbx
M

Nice visualization. One suggestion: Filter By – non-exclusive options should be selectable via checkboxes, not something that promises to be a radio button by being round.
Hacked

I don’ feel like all the categories are mutually exclusive. Especially where the majority of breaches here are classified as “hacked.” A “hack” typically is accomplished if a system hasn’t been securely configured in the first place (“security”?), or there is some phishing / social engineering (“inside job”?) or some malware (“virus”?) install. Should those breaches classified as “hacked” really be re-categorized where possible, according to the underlying weakness(es) which made them possible?

ideas, issues, knowledge, data — visualized!

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Based on a True True Story?

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