Verizon Report: Top 9 Causes Of Data Breaches

6. Miscellaneous Errors

Miscellaneous errors accounted for 8.1 percent of confirmed breaches and 29.4 percent of total incidents, the highest percentage of any category. Most miscellaneous errors, upward of 60 percent, were caused internally. Of those, 30 percent was sensitive information sent to incorrect recipients, 17 percent was publishing nonpublic data to public web servers, and 12 percent was insecure disposal of personal and medical data. To help cut back on miscellaneous errors, the report recommended figuring out the root of such errors and remedying the problem at its source.