Is your personal information safe? Hacker leaks thousands of Facebook Marketplace user records!
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In an age where our personal details are as much a part of us as our physical belongings, our online information security is paramount.
With each click, tap, or swipe, individuals unwittingly leave behind digital breadcrumbs that can lead straight to their private domains, making them vulnerable to a myriad of dangers that range from identity theft to invasive surveillance.
Unfortunately, the digital world is not without its pitfalls, and a recent incident has left many online feeling vulnerable and exposed.
A staggering 200,000 records from Facebook Marketplace users have been leaked on a notorious hacking forum, raising alarms about the safety of personal information online.
The leaked data, which includes mobile phone numbers, email addresses, and other sensitive personal information, was verified by technology website BleepingComputer.
They confirmed the authenticity of the data by matching email addresses and phone numbers from random records within the sample data shared by the threat actor—any group deemed a threat to cybersecurity—known as IntelBroker.
Meta, the parent company of Facebook, has yet to comment on this specific leak.
However, the threat actor claimed the data was obtained after a Meta contractor's systems were hacked.
For cybercriminals, the leaked database is a treasure trove of personally identifiable information (PII) such as names, phone numbers, email addresses, Facebook IDs, and Facebook profile information.
The implications of such a leak are far-reaching. Cybercriminals can use the leaked email addresses to launch targeted phishing attacks, while the exposed mobile numbers could lead to mobile phishing or even SIM swap attacks.
In a SIM swap attack, a criminal could potentially hijack a victim's phone number, and intercept multi-factor authentication codes sent via SMS, gaining unauthorised access to their accounts.
This isn't the first time Meta has been in the spotlight for data security issues.
In November 2022, the company was fined €265 million ($439.2 million AUD) for failing to protect user data from scrapers.
This fine was in response to the April 2021 incident where data from over 533 million Facebook accounts was leaked on a hacker forum.
The stolen data initially emerged within a hacking community in June 2020, including information accessible from public profiles and the private mobile numbers of the affected accounts.
A staggering 533,313,128 users of Facebook had their information compromised, which includes mobile numbers, Facebook IDs, names, genders, locations, relationship statuses, occupations, dates of birth, and email addresses.
Samples of the Facebook data reviewed by BleepingComputer at the time revealed that nearly every record of Facebook users leaked in April 2021 contained their mobile phone numbers, Facebook IDs, and names.
Additionally, the April 2021 data breach disclosed the phone numbers of three of Facebook's founders, namely Mark Zuckerberg, Chris Hughes, and Dustin Moskovitz.
As the digital landscape evolves, the safety and security of online transactions become increasingly paramount, especially on platforms like Facebook Marketplace.
Recent reports have shed light on the alarming prevalence of data breaches, with thousands of user records leaked on hacking forums, exposing individuals to potential privacy risks and facilitating the activities of cybercriminals.
In the wake of such breaches, it becomes imperative for users to exercise caution, and adopt robust strategies to safeguard their personal information and financial assets from ruthless scammers lurking on platforms like Facebook Marketplace.
Have you had an experience with data leaks or online security breaches? How do you protect yourself from them? Share your stories and tips in the comments below.
With each click, tap, or swipe, individuals unwittingly leave behind digital breadcrumbs that can lead straight to their private domains, making them vulnerable to a myriad of dangers that range from identity theft to invasive surveillance.
Unfortunately, the digital world is not without its pitfalls, and a recent incident has left many online feeling vulnerable and exposed.
A staggering 200,000 records from Facebook Marketplace users have been leaked on a notorious hacking forum, raising alarms about the safety of personal information online.
The leaked data, which includes mobile phone numbers, email addresses, and other sensitive personal information, was verified by technology website BleepingComputer.
They confirmed the authenticity of the data by matching email addresses and phone numbers from random records within the sample data shared by the threat actor—any group deemed a threat to cybersecurity—known as IntelBroker.
Around 200,000 Facebook Marketplace user information were leaked on a hacking forum. Credits: Shutterstock
Meta, the parent company of Facebook, has yet to comment on this specific leak.
However, the threat actor claimed the data was obtained after a Meta contractor's systems were hacked.
For cybercriminals, the leaked database is a treasure trove of personally identifiable information (PII) such as names, phone numbers, email addresses, Facebook IDs, and Facebook profile information.
The implications of such a leak are far-reaching. Cybercriminals can use the leaked email addresses to launch targeted phishing attacks, while the exposed mobile numbers could lead to mobile phishing or even SIM swap attacks.
In a SIM swap attack, a criminal could potentially hijack a victim's phone number, and intercept multi-factor authentication codes sent via SMS, gaining unauthorised access to their accounts.
This isn't the first time Meta has been in the spotlight for data security issues.
In November 2022, the company was fined €265 million ($439.2 million AUD) for failing to protect user data from scrapers.
This fine was in response to the April 2021 incident where data from over 533 million Facebook accounts was leaked on a hacker forum.
The stolen data initially emerged within a hacking community in June 2020, including information accessible from public profiles and the private mobile numbers of the affected accounts.
A staggering 533,313,128 users of Facebook had their information compromised, which includes mobile numbers, Facebook IDs, names, genders, locations, relationship statuses, occupations, dates of birth, and email addresses.
Samples of the Facebook data reviewed by BleepingComputer at the time revealed that nearly every record of Facebook users leaked in April 2021 contained their mobile phone numbers, Facebook IDs, and names.
Additionally, the April 2021 data breach disclosed the phone numbers of three of Facebook's founders, namely Mark Zuckerberg, Chris Hughes, and Dustin Moskovitz.
As the digital landscape evolves, the safety and security of online transactions become increasingly paramount, especially on platforms like Facebook Marketplace.
Recent reports have shed light on the alarming prevalence of data breaches, with thousands of user records leaked on hacking forums, exposing individuals to potential privacy risks and facilitating the activities of cybercriminals.
In the wake of such breaches, it becomes imperative for users to exercise caution, and adopt robust strategies to safeguard their personal information and financial assets from ruthless scammers lurking on platforms like Facebook Marketplace.
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