Massive Data Theft Targets 1.2 Crore WhatsApp Accounts, 17 Lakh Facebook Users In India
A massive data breach that recently affected Indians was recently dug out by Cyberabad Police, who later arrested seven people who reportedly accessed sensitive data with potential implications for national security, PTI reported.?The gang allegedly illegally accessed and sold sensitive data of Indian citizens, the government, and many important organisations.
A mammoth data breach
It appears that the accused were selling over 140 types of information - including personal information of 2,55,000 defence personnel, along with mobile numbers of NEET students, Cyberabad Police Commissioner M Stephen Raveendra said on Thursday.
According to the police, seven data brokers were taken into custody in Delhi. It appears that the gang was running three call centres in Noida and elsewhere; managing to sell personal data to 100 hackers - who used it to commit cyber crimes.
Also read:?Data Of 30 Million Indian Railways' Passengers Up For Sale After Breach: Reports
Details that may have been sold include defence personnel's ranks, email IDs, posting details - all of which were found with the accused.?
"This will have serious national security implications. The data of defence and government employees can be used for espionage; to impersonate them and commit serious offences that may jeopardise national security. We are in the process of finding out how this data got leaked and who are the insiders who are doing it," Commissioner Raveendra said.
How was the data sold?
The arrested were reportedly selling sensitive data through a contact details directory service provider, the police said. It was found that they sold data of 50,000 citizens for as low as ?2,000.
"When any individual calls the toll-free numbers of service providers for any sector or category related confidential data of individuals, their query is listed and sent to that category of service providers. Then these fraudsters contact the clients and send them samples. If the client agrees to purchase, they make payment and are provided the data," police said.
Also read:?Hackers Selling Personal Data Of 150,000 Patients From TN Hospital On Dark Web
The police are now sending notices to these service providers, who are likely to face legal action. It seems that the accused had registered themselves as service delivery agents, later selling private data to cyber criminals.
More than 1.2 crore WhatsApp users and 17 lakh Facebook users were also targeted in this data theft. Data about two crore students was also found - including 12 lakh CBSE students, 40 lakh jobseekers, 1.47 crore car owners, 11 lakh government employees, and 15 lakh IT professionals.?
In addition, a mobile number database of three crore individuals was also found. PAN card data is especially worrisome, for it may be used to commit crimes.
What do you think about this worrying data breach? Let us know in the comments below.?For more in the world of?technology?and?science, keep reading?Indiatimes.com.
