A massive data breach has exposed the personal information of nearly 100 million Americans, according to security researchers. The breach, which likely occurred due to human error, involved the background check company MC2 Data.
What Information Was Exposed?
The leaked data includes a wide range of sensitive information, including:
- Names
- Email addresses
- IP addresses
- Encrypted passwords
- Partial payment information
- Home addresses
- Dates of birth
- Phone numbers
- Property records
- Legal records
- Family and relative information
- Neighbor data
- Employment history
A Massive Data Leak
Researchers discovered a database containing 2.2 terabytes of personal data that was left unprotected and accessible to anyone on the internet. This massive data leak puts millions of Americans at risk of identity theft and other malicious attacks.
Legal Implications
Companies that hold sensitive data are subject to laws designed to protect that information. The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) specifically mandates that companies providing background checks must take reasonable steps to ensure data accuracy, prevent unauthorized access, and only use information for legal purposes.
This data breach highlights the importance of data security and the need for companies to implement strong safeguards to protect sensitive information.
