CIPT Practice Exam 2026 – Complete Prep Guide

The term "data breach" specifically refers to an incident in which personal data is accessed, disclosed, or lost without authorization. This can encompass a variety of situations where sensitive or confidential information is compromised, whether through hacking, insufficient security measures, or human error. The key aspect of a data breach is the unauthorized nature of the access or disclosure, which can lead to significant risks for individuals, such as identity theft or financial loss.

In this context, other options do not accurately define a data breach. For instance, hardware failure may lead to data loss but does not inherently involve unauthorized access or disclosure of data. Similarly, a software licensing violation pertains to the misuse of software and intellectual property rights, while phishing attacks represent a method of trying to steal personal information but do not necessarily result in a breach unless the information is accessed without authorization. Therefore, option B accurately captures the essence of what constitutes a data breach within the realm of privacy and data protection.