A colossal data breach has exposed over 640,000 personal records, totaling 713.1 GB of sensitive information. The database, owned by SL Data Services, was discovered publicly accessible—completely unprotected and without encryption.
The records included background checks, vehicle and property ownership details, court records, and more. Disturbingly, they contained personal information such as full names, addresses, email addresses, employment history, social media accounts, phone numbers, and criminal records.
This incident echoes the catastrophic National Public Data breach, which affected nearly every American. That breach exposed the data of 2.9 billion individuals—both living and deceased—revealing names, social security numbers, email addresses, phone numbers, and mailing addresses.
National Public Data, a Florida-based company providing corporate background checks, is now bankrupt. The bankruptcy filing claims assets below $50,000, dashing hopes for victim compensation or even basic credit monitoring. Over 20 states have launched civil cases, and numerous class action lawsuits remain unresolved.
Cybersecurity researcher Jeremiah Fowler uncovered the SL Data Services breach and notified the company, yet it took an entire week to secure the database. This delay—and the precedent of National Public Data—underscores a dire need for stricter oversight and accountability in handling personal data.
The risks of these breaches are staggering: identity theft, phishing scams, and social engineering attacks. Companies must prioritize protecting consumer data to prevent these recurring digital catastrophes.
Sources:
https://www.wgal.com/article/national-public-data-bankruptcy-massive-data-breach/62663172
https://www.theregister.com/2024/11/27/600k_sensitive_files_exposed/
https://www.cyberpress.org/sensitive-records-exposed/
https://www.yahoo.com/news/over-600-000-people-hit-152822391.html
https://www.techepages.com/propertyrec-leak-exposes-over-half-a-million-background-check-records/