Major Data Broker Hack May Have Exposed Precise Location Information for Tens of Millions

A major data broker hack may have leaked precise location info for millions

Gravy Analytics, a company previously targeted by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) over concerns about the protection of sensitive location data, has disclosed a massive breach that may have resulted in the theft of precise location information for tens of millions of people.

According to reports, the hack appears to have compromised not only Gravy’s own database but also that of third-party services it collaborates with. This could mean that the affected individuals come from various backgrounds and industries, including those who use popular mobile games like Candy Crush, dating apps, pregnancy tracking apps, and more.

While it is still unclear how long hackers had access to Gravy’s cloud environment before the breach was discovered on January 4th, the company has admitted to unauthorized access to its Amazon Web Services (AWS) cloud storage. The extent of the damage and whether the leak constitutes a “reportable personal data breach” remains to be seen.

As investigations continue, it appears that at least tens of millions of location points have been compromised, including sensitive areas like government institutions, military bases, and other restricted zones. This raises serious concerns about potential surveillance or monitoring activities involving individuals’ private information.

In light of this incident, many users are now questioning the integrity and security measures taken by Gravy Analytics to protect its vast repository of user data. The company has promised to identify the extent of the breach and whether personal data was indeed leaked.

Source: www.theverge.com