Top 10 Computer Hacks of All Time
Computer hacks have evolved from curious exploits in early systems to sophisticated cyber warfare and massive data breaches. Below is a curated list of the 10 most notorious ones, selected for their historical significance, scale, innovation, or impact. I’ve drawn from a range of eras to highlight the progression of hacking.
Each includes the year, a brief overview of what happened, and key consequences.
1. Morris Worm (1988)
Created by Robert Tappan Morris as an experiment, this was the first major internet worm, exploiting vulnerabilities in Unix systems to self-replicate and spread to about 6,000 machines (10% of the internet at the time). It caused widespread slowdowns and crashes.
Impact: Estimated $10–100 million in cleanup costs; led to the creation of the CERT Coordination Center for cybersecurity response.
2. ILOVEYOU Worm (2000)
A simple Visual Basic script disguised as a love letter email infected over 50 million computers worldwide by overwriting files and spreading via Outlook contacts. Originated by a Filipino student as a “thesis project.”
Impact: Caused $10–15 billion in global damages, including disrupted government and corporate operations; highlighted email as a vector for malware.
3. MafiaBoy DDoS Attacks (2000)
15-year-old Michael Calce (MafiaBoy) launched DDoS attacks using botnets to overwhelm websites like Yahoo, eBay, CNN, and Amazon, knocking them offline for hours.
Impact: $1.2 billion in estimated economic losses; one of the first high-profile DDoS incidents, leading to stricter juvenile cybercrime laws.
4. Heartland Payment Systems Breach (2008)
Hackers used SQL injection to install malware on the payment processor’s network, capturing unencrypted credit card data from 134 million transactions over six months.
Impact: Largest credit card breach at the time; $60 million in fines and the arrest of 11 people in Operation Open Market.
5. Stuxnet Worm (2010)
A highly targeted worm, believed to be a U.S.-Israeli operation, infected Iran’s nuclear centrifuges via USB drives and SCADA systems, causing physical damage by speeding up and slowing down machinery.
Impact: Delayed Iran’s nuclear program by years; marked the first known cyber weapon to cause real-world destruction, ushering in cyber warfare era.
6. Sony PlayStation Network Hack (2011)
Attackers exploited a vulnerability to breach the network, stealing personal data (including credit card details) from 77 million users and forcing a 23-day shutdown.
Impact: $171 million in direct costs and $15 million settlement; exposed risks in gaming ecosystems and led to improved encryption standards.
7. Yahoo Breaches (2013–2014)
State-sponsored hackers used cookie forgery and SQL injection to access all 3 billion Yahoo accounts, stealing names, emails, passwords, and security questions.
Impact: Largest breach ever (at the time); $117.5 million settlement with users and contributed to Verizon’s discounted acquisition of Yahoo.
8. Target Breach (2013)
Malware was installed on point-of-sale systems via stolen HVAC vendor credentials, skimming credit card data from 40 million cards and personal info from 70 million customers during the holiday season.
Impact: $20 million in fines, CEO resignation, and $202 million in total costs; accelerated PCI DSS compliance in retail.
9. Equifax Breach (2017)
Exploiting an unpatched Apache Struts vulnerability, hackers accessed sensitive data (Social Security numbers, birth dates) of 147 million people over 76 days.
Impact: $700 million in fines and settlements, massive credit monitoring rollout; prompted U.S. laws on data breach notifications.
10. Capital One Breach (2019)
A former AWS engineer exploited a server-side request forgery flaw in a web app firewall to access cloud storage, exposing data of 106 million customers.
Impact: $190 million settlement and $80 million fine; underscored cloud misconfiguration risks and led to AWS security enhancements.
These hacks illustrate key lessons: patch vulnerabilities promptly, segment networks, enforce multi-factor authentication, and monitor third-party access. For more on ongoing threats, resources like CSIS’s timeline provide real-time updates.