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Russian Drivers' Personal Data Available Online for Less than the Price of an iPhone

The personal data of millions of Russian drivers are available online for only a few hundred dollars, though right now, it’s still not clear how the information was obtained.
Nobody knows for sure how the information was obtained 6 photos
Photo: Avast
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The database includes the details of millions of Moscow drivers, such as full names, the car they own and the year of registration, the VIN code and the license plate, the owner’s date of birth, and phone number.

According to local media, the data is 100 percent legit, with the malicious actors selling the entire batch for no less than $800..

As it turns out, the personal details were obtained between 2006 and 2019, as last year, Russia implemented a new digital system that stores all driver information on a central server.

However, it’s not clear if the person or group who obtained the database is either an insider or a malicious actor who managed to break into the systems where authorities stored the information.

Judging from the exposed information, the details could very well come from an insurance company. On the other hand, someone may have also extracted it from an online server that wasn’t properly secured.

Regardless of the method used to obtain the database, the data collection happened for nearly 13 years, so if there’s indeed a breach that someone managed to exploit, it clearly came to an end last year when Russia completed the migration of all details to a central server.

For the time being, however, it’s not known how many people ended up buying the stolen database, but it goes without saying that the exposed individuals should keep an eye out for any malicious campaigns, such as phishing or identity theft.

Fortunately, the leaked details aren’t extremely sensitive, but given the small price of the archive, there’s a chance the person selling the information could end up having plenty of customers among smaller hacking groups looking for quick exploits.
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About the author: Bogdan Popa
Bogdan Popa profile photo

Bogdan keeps an eye on how technology is taking over the car world. His long-term goals are buying an 18-wheeler because he needs more space for his kid’s toys, and convincing Google and Apple that Android Auto and CarPlay deserve at least as much attention as their phones.
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