The Equifax Breach: Why This One Is Different

This is not the first time that a credit reporting agency has been breached, nor is it the first time that Equifax has reported a breach. What <i>is</i> different with the current breach is its size and the nature of information compromised, as well as the implications of the breach in light of the increasingly complex web of cybersecurity regulations nationwide.

8 minute read October 02, 2017 at 12:07 AM
By
F. Paul Greene
The Equifax Breach: Why This One Is Different

On Sept. 7, 2017, the credit reporting agency Equifax reported a data breach affecting approximately 143 million U.S. consumers. Among the personally identifiable information (PII) that was compromised was name, date of birth, address, and Social Security number.

This premium content is locked for Cybersecurity Law & Strategy subscribers only

ENJOY UNLIMITED ACCESS TO THE SINGLE SOURCE OF OBJECTIVE LEGAL ANALYSIS, PRACTICAL INSIGHTS, AND NEWS IN Cybersecurity Law & Strategy

  • Stay current on the latest information, rulings, regulations, and trends
  • Includes practical, must-have information on copyrights, royalties, AI, and more
  • Tap into expert guidance from top entertainment lawyers and experts

Already have an account? Sign In Now

For enterprise-wide or corporate access, please contact Customer Service at [email protected] or call 1-877-256-2473.

NOT FOR REPRINT

© 2026 ALM Global, LLC, All Rights Reserved. Request academic re-use from www.copyright.com. All other uses, submit a request to [email protected]. For more information visit Asset & Logo Licensing.

Continue Reading

Most firms are aiming their newest tools at the work they already do — pouring their most powerful technology into running the same tasks a little faster. But when everyone automates the same tasks at once, no one pulls ahead. That reaches the future a little faster while leaving a firm’s largest opportunity untouched — and that opportunity isn’t doing more of the existing work, but transforming how the high-value work gets done.

June 01, 2026

Artificial intelligence is rapidly embedding itself into legal workflows, but much of the conversation treats all use cases as if they carry the same level of risk, even if they do not. The more useful question is not whether AI works, but where it can be safely applied and where it cannot.

June 01, 2026