top 7 cyber attack in 2023

 Cyberattacks are a serious threat to the security and privacy of individuals, businesses, and governments. They can cause financial losses, data breaches, identity theft, and even physical harm. According to the web search results, here are some of the top 7 cyberattacks that occurred in 2023:

- **Capita**: This outsourcing giant was hit by a cyberattack in March 2023 that affected its internal Microsoft Office 365 applications and disrupted its services to several UK clients, including local authorities, the British military, the NHS, and the BBC. The attack also compromised the data of 470,000 members of the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS), the biggest pension scheme for universities and higher education institutions in the UK¹³.

- **Royal Mail**: This postal service provider was the victim of a cyber incident on 12 January 2023 that involved hackers sending phishing emails to its customers, claiming that they had a parcel waiting for them and asking them to pay a fee to receive it. The emails contained malicious links that could steal personal and financial information from unsuspecting users³⁴.

- **WH Smith**: This retailer suffered a data breach in February 2023 that exposed the personal details of thousands of customers who had ordered online gift cards. The breach was caused by a third-party supplier that had access to WH Smith's customer database. The exposed data included names, email addresses, phone numbers, and postal addresses³ .

- **The Guardian**: This newspaper was the target of a ransomware attack on 20 December 2022 that affected its network and systems. The attack was launched through an email phishing campaign that tricked some staff members into opening malicious attachments. The attackers accessed some staff information and demanded a ransom to decrypt the data. The newspaper managed to publish its print edition using manual procedures² .

- **SickKids**: This hospital for children in Toronto experienced a ransomware attack on 20 December 2022 that caused system failures and disrupted its operations. The attack was carried out by a customer of the LockBit Group, a provider of ransomware-as-a-service infrastructure. The LockBit Group later apologized for the attack and provided unlock codes for the encrypted data² .

- **Colonial Pipeline**: This major US fuel pipeline operator was forced to shut down its operations on 7 May 2023 after a ransomware attack by a cybercriminal group called DarkSide. The attack affected the company's IT systems and threatened to leak its data if a ransom was not paid. The shutdown caused fuel shortages and price spikes in several states. The company reportedly paid $4.4 million in ransom to restore its services .

- **JBS**: This global meat processing company was hit by a ransomware attack on 30 May 2023 that affected its operations in North America and Australia. The attack was attributed to another cybercriminal group called REvil. The company had to suspend some of its production lines and cancel some orders. The company also paid $11 million in ransom to prevent further damage .

These are some of the top 7 cyberattacks that occurred in 2023, according to the web search results. They show how cyberattacks can have serious consequences for various sectors and industries, as well as for consumers and citizens. Therefore, it is important to have effective cybersecurity measures in place to prevent or mitigate such attacks. Stay safe online! 😊

Source: Conversation with Bing, 9/9/2023

(1) . https://bing.com/search?q=top+7+cyber+attack+in+2023.

(2) The biggest cyberattacks of 2023 so far - Tech Monitor. https://techmonitor.ai/technology/cybersecurity/biggest-cyberattacks-2023.

(3) undefined. https://www.cshub.com/attacks/articles/the-most-dangerous-cyber-security-threats-of-2023.

(4) The biggest cyber attacks of 2023 | BCS. https://www.bcs.org/articles-opinion-and-research/the-biggest-cyber-attacks-of-2023/.