Activity 2B Performance Criteria P.C. 2.5 Implement internal control procedures for cyber security and the safe handling of payments and data Case Scenario: Equifax Data Breach Background: In March 2017, Equifax, a major credit reporting agency in the United States, experienced a significant data breach that exposed personally identifying information of hundreds of millions of individuals. The breach raised concerns not only about the security lapses that allowed it to happen but also about Equifax's response the incident. How the Equifax Breach Happened: 1. Initial Entry: The breach began through a consumer complaint web portal, exploiting a known vulnerability (CVE-2017-5638) in Apache Struts, a framework used by Equifax. The vulnerability should have been patched, but due to internal process failures, it remained unaddressed. 2. Lack of Segmentation: Attackers moved from the web portal to other servers due to inadequate segmentation of systems. They discovered usernames and passwords stored in plain text, providing access to additional systems. 3. Encryption Certificate Failure: Data was exfiltrated in encrypted form for months without detection because Equifax failed to renew an encryption certificate on an internal security tool, allowing attackers to operate undetected. 4. Delayed Public Disclosure: Equifax did not publicize the breach until more than a month after its discovery. Stock sales by top executives during this period raised suspicions of insider trading. Timeline of Events: March 10, 2017: Initial breach through the Struts vulnerability. May 13, 2017: Attackers began moving within Equifax's network, exfiltrating data. ■ July 29, 2019: Expired encryption certificate discovered; Equifax administrators became aware of the breach. ■ September 8, 2017: Equifax publicly disclosed the breach, more than a month after its discovery. Data Compromised: Potentially affected 143 million people. Exposed information included names, addresses, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, and driver's license numbers. Approximately 200,000 records included credit card numbers. Who Was Responsible: The attackers' identity remains a subject of speculation. There are strong indications that Chinese state-sponsored hackers were behind the breach for espionage purposes rather than financial gain. • Evidence points to a connection with other state-backed cyber operations targeting U.S. government officials. Equifax's Response: ⚫ Equifax's immediate response faced criticism for setting up a separate domain for breach information, potentially susceptible to phishing. ⚫ The breach site's security was questioned, and Equifax directed affected individuals to enroll in their ID protection service. ⚫Legislation imposing fines on credit-reporting agencies for breaches did not pass. Impact on Equifax: ⚫Top-level turnover in Equifax's leadership. Equifax spent $1.4 billion on cleanup and security upgrades. ⚫ A record-breaking settlement with the FTC required Equifax to spend at least $1.38 billion to resolve consumer claims. On the basis of above for case snerio prepare research report on Implementing Internal Control Procedures for Cybersecurity and Safe Handling of Payments and Data for Equifax Breach. Instructions: 1. Introduction: • Provide a brief overview of the Equifax Data Breach, highlighting its significance and impact. . Highlight the key areas of concern, including the initial entry, lack of segmentation, encryption certificate failure, delayed disclosure, and the responsible parties. 2. Analysis of Breach Causes: . Explore in detail how the breach occurred, focusing on the identified vulnerabilities and failures. Discuss the implications of the lack of segmentation and the consequences of the encryption certificate failure. 3. Timeline of Events: • Emphasize the importance of timely detection and disclosure in cybersecurity incidents. 4. Scope of Data Compromised: