Major data breaches keep hitting the headlines: Vastaamo's therapy records compromised, 23andMe exposed 7 million user DNA profiles—seemingly permanent. The knee-jerk response? Blame 'sophisticated hackers' or 'user weak passwords.' But that's sidestepping the real problem.

The fundamental issue isn't about attack sophistication—it's how systems are architected from the ground up. When sensitive data exists in plaintext or poorly encrypted formats, the vulnerability becomes systemic rather than incidental. Even fortress-grade passwords can't save you if the underlying infrastructure treats user data as low-hanging fruit.

This isn't a technical accident. It's a design choice: easier access often wins over proper security protocols. Until companies stop treating data protection as an afterthought and rebuild with encryption-first architecture, these breaches won't be anomalies—they'll be the norm.