5 Million IBANs Sold
The personal data of millions of Free customers, potentially including you, involving over 19 million accounts and 5 million IBANs, were sold for $175,000 on BreachForums, a platform dedicated to cybercrime. The responsible hacker confirmed that these data were not repurchased by Free despite an earlier extortion attempt. With no response from the operator, the cybercriminal decided to auction these sensitive details, including names, addresses, phone numbers, and emails. This hacking, confirmed by Free, significantly heightens the vulnerability of subscribers to fraud risks.
A Massive Cyberattack Against Free
As a reminder, Free was the target of a major cyberattack, disclosed belatedly by the operator. The hacker behind this act managed to infiltrate Free’s systems to extract personal and banking data of millions of subscribers. The scale of the attack, affecting a vast number of customers, has sparked widespread concern, particularly regarding how criminals might use this information.
What are the Risks for Subscribers?
This data theft exposes subscribers to an increased risk of fraud, especially through phishing and fraudulent bank withdrawals. Free advises its customers to remain extremely vigilant, particularly in monitoring their bank accounts. Suspicious SMS messages, emails, and calls could be used to gather more information. Subscribers should also be extra cautious regarding unsolicited communications that could be attempts at fraud.
Repeated Data Leaks
This case, which also affects other French companies, highlights the need for businesses to strengthen their security systems to prevent such intrusions and protect their customers’ information. It’s frustrating to comply with stringent regulations all year (GDPR, cookies, and other operational restrictions) meant to protect users, only to have our personal information stolen due to vulnerabilities in operators or online stores.
What are your thoughts on this matter? Is this the type of issue that might make you switch operators, or does it somewhat not concern you?