Pop culture has made cybercrime seem like quantum physics: It is nearly impossible for the average person to understand how data and money are easily stolen with some computer keystrokes. Maybe that's why cyber thieves make such compelling figures in movies and television shows. You want to understand just what the heck they're doing.

On the surface, there seems to be a lot of mystery about real life data breaches at credit unions, banks and other financial institutions. Yet when one looks past the "elaborate" techniques and technologies used by hackers, the data breaches themselves are surprisingly simple. In fact, the vast majority result from three relatable scenarios:

1. An unknown hacker obtains an employee's credentials and proceeds to steal funds and/or data.

2. An employee or trusted third party knowingly steals funds and/or data.

3. An employee or trusted third party unknowingly releases sensitive data for profit.

The common factor in each of these scenarios is the insider: An employee, privileged user or trusted third party. Whether intentional or accidental, these are the people who make data breaches possible.