Thousands of Afghans, many of whom had worked alongside British forces, have been quietly resettled in the UK after a data breach exposed their identities and raised fears of Taliban retaliation, the British government confirmed on July 15.
Officials also announced the closure of the program, which had operated under a rare court order preventing media coverage.
Defense Secretary John Healey informed lawmakers that the breach occurred in 2022, when a Ministry of Defense employee mistakenly shared a spreadsheet containing the personal details of nearly 19,000 Afghan applicants. The government reportedly became aware of the leak only 18 months later, after some of the data appeared on Facebook.
This alarming case highlights just how dangerous a data breach can be, not only for national security, but for the lives of individuals involved. From government agencies to global brands, no organization is immune. Based on a ranking by CSO Online, this gallery explores some of the most damaging data breaches in recent history—and the surprising companies behind them.