PerspectiveSensitive Personal and Financial Data of What’s Likely an Entire Country Leaked Online
A chilling data leak on an unsecured server in Miami divulged sensitive personal and financial information of what appears to be the entire population of Ecuador. The discovery came from the internet security firm VpnMentor, which discovered the database containing more than 20 million individuals’ data—including as many as 7 million minors—on an exposed Florida-based server belonging to the Ecuadorian data and analytics company Novaestrat.
A chilling data leak on an unsecured server in Miami divulged sensitive personal and financial information of what appears to be the entire population of Ecuador. The discovery came from the internet security firm VpnMentor, which discovered the database containing more than 20 million individuals’ data—including as many as 7 million minors—on an exposed Florida-based server belonging to the Ecuadorian data and analytics company Novaestrat. Ironically, the personal data of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, who had been given asylum in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London, was included in the leak.
Elliot Hannon writes in Slate that the internet security firm said that the disclosed information included addresses, phone numbers, places and dates of birth, marital statuses, family members, and levels of education. As far as employment and financial information, the compromised data contained bank account balances, personal credit and financing info, and employer information, including job title and salary.
