In 2023, an alarming 300 million accounts were compromised in data breaches worldwide; it was also a record setting year for AI-related incidents. To draw attention and raise awareness about these issues, a one of a kind experiment was conducted. AI was tasked with designing the world's safest costume, which was then recreated in real life by experienced designers. The costume was indeed safe and funky but proved to be impractical for everyday use.
The latest data breach yearly recap by Surfshark reveals that the United States holds the dubious distinction of ranking first globally in data breaches, accounting for approximately 97 million incidents. This staggering number constitutes roughly a third of all breaches reported in 2023, averaging three leaked accounts every second. Notably, the United States experienced a surge in breached accounts, with more than a threefold increase, even as the global trends pointed to a general decline of 20%.
Russia emerged as the second most affected country, with 79 million accounts compromised last year. France followed as the third most impacted, with 10 million breaches, Spain with 8 million, and India with 5 million rounding out the top five.
The previous year was record-setting for AI incidents, which reshaped our understanding of AI's impact on our world. It was a year marked by a myriad of AI issues, ranging from the creation of deceptive deep fake videos to the widespread generation of advanced AI-created images. In the midst of this digital upheaval, public figures found themselves at the epicenter of a technological storm, according to a recent study by Surfshark.
Agneska Sablovskaja, Lead Researcher at Surfshark
Even a single account data leak can lead to unauthorized access, risking the misuse of personal information, potential identity or financial theft. Using the same passwords across multiple accounts can compromise others, so it's crucial to use unique and strong passwords for different online services. In 2023, there were 121 recorded AI incidents, representing a 30% increase from the previous year. This figure accounts for one-fifth of all documented AI incidents between 2010 and 2023, marking 2023 the year with the highest number of incidents in the history of AI. Nonetheless, the second half of 2023 saw a nearly 60% reduction in reported incidents as compared to the first half. Despite this progress, continuous vigilance and advancement in AI safety protocols are essential to maintain this downward trend.
Indre Tamele, Brand Activation Lead at Surfshark
With our latest experiment, we brought a little fun to the serious topic of internet security by creating a real-life version of the world’s safest costume, as designed by AI. We found that it’s pretty tough to do simple everyday tasks dressed in a bulky, bright red and yellow costume. From making a cup of coffee to walking the dog, the costume might be safe, but it created many awkward moments in everyday life. The experiment showed that you can be too cautious in the real world, but when it comes to the digital world, being safe is much easier and should always be your top priority. This is even more important considering that a staggering 300 million accounts were breached in 2023 alone. Thankfully, there are many easy and convenient ways to protect your safety, identity, and data online. It's like wearing an invisible, super-secure outfit every day.
