People often use the words “data breach” and “privacy breach” like they mean the thing. They do not. The two can be similar. They talk about different issues.
A Data Breach Is About Information That Is Seen by the Wrong People
Imagine a company keeps records of customers on a computer. Someone who is not allowed gets into that computer. Takes the records. That is a data breach. The main problem is that someone got to the data without being asked.
The information does not have to be money related. It could be things like passwords or files about customers. Sometimes even a file that is inside the company can be a problem if the wrong person sees it.
How It Usually Happens
Hacking is not always involved. A computer that is lost can show information. So can a database that is set up wrong and anyone on the internet can see it.
• A laptop that is stolen and has customer files on it. Not like a movie with hackers. It still counts.
• A database that is online because someone changed a setting and forgot to fix it.
A Privacy Breach Is About Using Information the Wrong Way
Privacy is a bit wider. A company might ask for your information, for one reason and then use it for something else without telling you. No hacker is needed.
Because the problem is how the information was gathered, used, shared or kept. The information can stay safely inside the companys computers. Still be handled in a way that breaks the rules or goes against what a person expects.
Where the Two Are the
Imagine a hacker takes a companys list of customers. That is a data breach because the information was taken without permission. If the information includes details the event can also be a privacy breach and cause privacy rules to apply.
The other way around is not always true. A privacy breach can happen without any outsider getting into the system.
Why the Difference Matters
The difference is important because the answer is not always the same. A data breach usually makes a company look into security and check what information was seen.
A privacy breach brings up questions. Why was the information taken? Who got it? Was there a reason to use it? What did the company say to the person before?