This essay provides a comprehensive analysis of the 2017 Equifax data breach, examining the ethical, legal, and technological dimensions of the incident. It delves into the corporate governance failures, including the delayed patching of a known vulnerability in Apache Struts and the actions of top executives who prioritized personal gain over data security. The essay explores the violation of ethical principles like utilitarianism and virtue theory, highlighting the impact on millions of consumers. It also details the technical aspects of the breach, including the hackers' methods of gaining access to sensitive data and the company's inadequate security measures. Furthermore, the essay outlines the actions taken by Equifax and federal agencies in response to the breach, as well as recommendations for mitigating similar security risks in the future. The study emphasizes the importance of timely disclosure, robust security protocols, and ethical leadership in protecting consumer data.
![[object Object]](/_next/static/media/star-bottom.7253800d.svg)
