Major Effects a Data Breach Has on Your Health

We’re in the midst of a “scamdemic,” says the Identity Theft Resource Center. According to the US-based non-profit, there were 422.1 million victims of data breaches in 2022, an increase of 41.5% from 2021.

While you hear news of cyberattacks in the media regularly, there’s not enough attention to the mental health costs of having your data stolen, says Amir Tarighat, co-founder and chief executive officer of the cybersecurity startup Agency. When it comes to straightening everything out after a data breach, it often doesn’t just take a day or two—it can take months, or longer. “People have to completely stop their lives,” he says. “It can be a traumatic experience.”