What happens to your information after a data breach

With many companies in Japan coming forward in recent days to disclose data breaches, and with few ways to avoid using online services requiring users to input personal information, some are left wondering what happens after a theft and how they can protect themselves. 

According to Sen Ueno, president and representative director of the cybersecurity company Tricorder, the timeline from breach to theft can vary. 

An unauthorized access attack — in which a third party gains entry into a network or system without permission — begins with the initial intrusion and can take place over the course of a few hours or even several years. Ueno noted that there have been cases in which attackers went undetected for nearly three years.