Data breaches are becoming increasingly common across the United States, leaving both individuals and organizations vulnerable. In February, the Minnetonka-based UnitedHealth Group breach was so significant that, according to the Minnesota Attorney General’s office, it resulted in millions of Minnesotan’s “health and personal data being leaked onto the dark web — a hidden portion of the Internet where cybercriminals buy, sell, and track personal information.” Other recent hacks in 2024 have targeted companies like AT&T, Ticketmaster, and Marriott International, as well as regional organizations such as the Minnesota Department of Human Services, the Minnesota Department of Education, Minneapolis-based MNGI Digestive Health, and social service programs in 18 counties across Minnesota.
With the volume of information being stolen, John Ebert, Ed.D., says it can be difficult to understand how to feel or respond — or what to do if your information is compromised.
So, how do data breaches occur? What is the impact on businesses and people, and what can we do to protect our information?
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About the Expert:
John Ebert, Ed.D., is a core professor and program director at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota and directs the M.S. in Data Intelligence and GeoAnalytics (DIGA) and M.S. in Cybersecurity programs. He also oversees the GIS Certificate and Data Engineering Certificate programs as well as the Cybersecurity Management and Cybersecurity Technology Certificate Programs and technology surrounding those fields including artificial intelligence and machine learning. He has worked in higher education for almost 20 years in technology, data, and analytic-related fields and serves as an appointed Land Information Committee member in local government.
Prior to his time at Saint Mary’s, he worked in local government IT management and geospatial technology overseeing the land conservation and land information departments. He also collaborates with national companies including the Mayo Clinic, RetailStat, Allina Health, Artic Wolf, and U.S. Department of Homeland Security – US Secret Service. He has presented research at Google Headquarters as well as the MN GIS/LIS Consortium, Mid-West GeoCON, and a number of local podcasts. Dr. Ebert holds a Bachelor of Science in Hydrogeology from Winona State University, a Master of Science in Resource Analysis from Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota, and a doctoral degree in Educational Leadership from Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota.
