What is a data breach?

A data breach is defined as an incident where unauthorized individuals gain access to sensitive or confidential information. This can occur through various methods, such as hacking, phishing, or inadequate security measures, and it often affects personal, financial, or healthcare data. The implications of a data breach are serious, as it can lead to identity theft, financial loss, and a breach of privacy for individuals or organizations.

The other choices do not align with the definition of a data breach. Secure transfer of information between banks pertains to the protocols used to protect data during transactions but does not represent a breach. Regular maintenance of security systems is about upkeep and improvement of defenses against breaches, not the event itself. Public disclosure of personal achievements is unrelated to data security and does not involve unauthorized access or exposure of sensitive information.