A week before Christmas in 2013, a small Pittsburgh-based mechanical contractor gained notoriety as the source of one of the largest data breaches in history. Using a set of pilfered network credentials stolen from that contractor, criminals gained access to the global payment and billing network for retail giant Target. Once inside Target's network, the criminals utilized a sophisticated form of malware (i.e., malicious software) to identify and access approximately 40 million credit and debit card accounts. 

Investigations by law enforcement and forensic specialists ensued. Litigation commenced and settled at great expense. By May 2014, Target's CEO had lost his job. By 2016, Target was reporting that the total cost of the breach exceeded $292 million dollars. The Target breach was extensive due in part to the company's size and large customer base, but even for small companies, expenses relating to cybersecurity attacks can accumulate quickly and cause collateral damage.