{"id":49963,"date":"2016-05-25T13:37:31","date_gmt":"2016-05-25T20:37:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.mcafee.com\/?p=49963"},"modified":"2025-08-15T05:32:54","modified_gmt":"2025-08-15T12:32:54","slug":"milwaukee-bucks-data-breach","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/privacy-identity-protection\/milwaukee-bucks-data-breach\/","title":{"rendered":"What We Can Take Away from the Milwaukee Bucks Data Breach"},"content":{"rendered":"

Large sports leagues are no strangers to the spotlight, and basketball is no different. The latest scandal? Last week, a major security incident put the NBA on center stage. The Milwaukee Bucks basketball team had their financial information<\/a> stolen by cybercriminals, thanks to a very convincing email scam<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s what happened: The Bucks fell for a cybercriminal email tactic called phishing<\/a>. This is when a crook simply pretends to be somebody else, using a phony identity to appear credible and win over your trust. In the case of The Bucks, a staffer received an email from an imposter who claimed to be team president Peter Feigin. Fooled by this pump fake, the employee sent the entire team\u2019s W2 forms to the criminal.<\/p>\n

The reality is, it isn\u2019t unheard of for individuals to be phished by similar tactics, resulting in private information stolen. As a result of this incident, The Bucks management has offered players credit monitoring services\u2014but damage control is never as strong as proactive prevention from the get-go. If a criminal gets the opportunity to sprint off on a fast break, they\u2019ve already gained an advantage.<\/p>\n

In addition to reminding us of persistent threats to our sensitive data, the breach hit a common refrain: Just as the NBA relies more and more on digital information, so do we.<\/p>\n

Think about it: In 2013, the NBA installed advanced cameras in its twenty-nine stadiums to capture every player\u2019s movements over the course of a season. The newly available quantities of data ushered in a revolution<\/a> for basketball. To this day, analysts obsess over reams of data to reveal strengths and weaknesses of individuals and teams. To fans mesmerized in the dramatic moments of a fourth quarter, all this may appear invisible, but behind-the-scenes analytics<\/a> are essential in the modern NBA.<\/p>\n

Our digital lives are the same. In the background, technology supports pretty much everything we do. Sending messages from a phone, using online banking to transfer funds, and logging in to a social media service all relies on digital input. Every time you move your position on the court of life, it\u2019s shaped by today\u2019s digital revolution.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s why The Bucks data breach is so important. This incident<\/a> is part of a larger pattern that goes beyond major sports organizations. With greater dependence on technology across industries, there are more vulnerabilities that cybercriminals could potentially exploit.<\/p>\n

Tips to Keep Yourself Safe<\/h2>\n

Using the NBA\u2019s use of analytics as an example, it\u2019s clear that digital services will only become a larger part of our lives. With that in mind, here are some tips to keep yourself safe (basketball metaphors and all):<\/p>\n