Nearly 1 Million IDs Exposed Online, Security Researcher Reports
Security researcher Sammy Azdoufal discovered over 985,000 passport and photo IDs accessible online without protection. The data, potentially including personal details and cannabis consumption habits, appears linked to visitors of Spanish cannabis clubs, with individuals from the US and celebrities also affected. The exposure poses risks of identity theft and privacy violations.
Key points
- Security researcher Sammy Azdoufal found over 985,000 passport and photo IDs publicly accessible online.
- The exposed data was reportedly linked to visitors of Spanish cannabis clubs.
- Information potentially includes personal details, phone numbers, addresses, and consumption habits.
- The exposed individuals include international visitors, with around 30,000 from the United States, and possibly celebrities.
- Azdoufal warns of risks such as identity theft and the resale of the data.
A significant data exposure has been reported by security researcher Sammy Azdoufal, who claims to have found nearly a million identity documents unprotected on the public internet. The data includes over 985,000 passport and photo IDs, accessible via public URLs without any password or access controls.
Azdoufal stated that the exposed information appears to be associated with individuals who have visited cannabis clubs in Spain. The compromised data may contain not only identification details but also potentially sensitive information such as phone numbers, addresses, and personal consumption habits related to cannabis. The researcher noted that the affected individuals come from various countries, with a notable number, approximately 30,000, originating from the United States. The dataset reportedly includes identities of celebrities as well.
The researcher expressed concern over the immediate risks posed by this exposure, highlighting the potential for identity theft and the rapid resale of the information on illicit markets. He emphasized the need for swift action to secure the data and mitigate the potential damage to those affected.
Sources
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