Major cyberattacks hit US data and infrastructure in 2026
Original: Hacked, leaked, and held for ransom: the worst breaches of 2026 so far
Why This Matters
Highlights escalating cybersecurity threats to critical infrastructure and government data
TechCrunch reports on the worst cyberattacks of 2026 so far, highlighting two major incidents: DOGE's alleged mishandling of Social Security data affecting most Americans, and increasing attacks on European energy and water infrastructure attributed to Russia.
The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, allegedly uploaded a live copy of the Social Security database to an unsecured third-party server, potentially exposing Social Security numbers of most living Americans. The incident occurred during DOGE's dismantling of federal agencies. Court filings reveal DOGE signed an agreement with a political advocacy group under the pretense of finding voter fraud evidence. House Democrats investigating the matter called it potentially 'the largest data breach in our nation's history.' Meanwhile, cyberattacks across Europe have increasingly targeted civilian infrastructure including power plants and water dams. Poland's energy grid was hit with computer-destroying malware, with several attacks attributed to Russia posing real-world harm risks to communities.