What significant cybersecurity incident occurred with Equifax in 2017?

In 2017, Equifax experienced a major cybersecurity incident where attackers accessed the financial data of millions of Americans, impacting approximately 147 million individuals. This breach was primarily due to a vulnerability in the Apache Struts web application framework that Equifax had not patched in a timely manner. The attackers exploited this vulnerability to gain access to sensitive information, including names, Social Security numbers, birth dates, addresses, and, in some cases, driver’s license numbers.

This incident highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date security practices, including timely software updates and vulnerability management. The breach resulted in significant financial and reputational damage to Equifax, as well as leading to increased scrutiny of data security practices across various organizations. In contrast to the other choices, the focus on unauthorized access to sensitive financial information directly aligns with the nature of the breach and its significant impact on consumers.