Malware
Interbank Admits to Data Breach After Unsuccessful Extortion Attempt and Massive Information Leak
Peruvian Interbank confirms a data breach after refusing to pay extortion demands. The hackers leaked customer information, but the bank assures no financial data was compromised. Interbank warns clients of potential phishing attacks and urges them to be cautious when providing personal information.
Imagine waking up one day to find your personal and financial information plastered all over the internet. It’s a nightmare scenario, isn’t it? Well, that’s precisely what happened to a group of customers at Interbank, one of Peru’s leading financial institutions, which serves over 2 million people.
Interbank confirms data breach
Interbank recently confirmed that a data breach occurred, with a hacker gaining unauthorized access to its systems and leaking stolen data online. The bank immediately deployed additional security measures to protect its clients’ operations and information. While their online platforms and mobile app experienced temporary outages, Interbank has assured customers that their deposits are safe and that most of their operations are back online.
Stolen data for sale on hacking forums
As if the breach wasn’t bad enough, a threat actor with the handle “kzoldyck” has been spotted by Dark Web Informer selling the stolen data on several hacking forums. The data in question includes customers’ full names, account IDs, birth dates, addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, IP addresses, and sensitive financial information like credit card numbers, CVV codes, and even plaintext credentials.
The hacker claims to have information on more than 3 million customers, with a total data cache of over 3.7 terabytes. They also mention possessing internal API credentials, LDAP, and Azure credentials. It’s worth noting that the hacker reportedly attempted to extort Interbank’s management two weeks prior, but the bank refused to pay.
So, what can you learn from this?
As a U.S. reader, you might be thinking, “That’s terrible, but it’s in Peru, so it doesn’t affect me.” Unfortunately, that’s not the case. Cybersecurity threats know no borders, and hackers are constantly seeking out new targets. In fact, data breaches have become increasingly common in recent years, with a 2021 report from the Identity Theft Resource Center showing a 17% increase in publicly reported data breaches in the U.S. compared to 2020.
This case serves as a stark reminder that no one is immune to the dangers of cyber threats. It’s essential to stay vigilant and educate yourself on how to protect your personal and financial information. Consider working with IT Services who can provide you with guidance and resources to stay one step ahead of the hackers.
Don’t let this happen to you
Be proactive in safeguarding your data and take the necessary steps now to protect your information. Reach out to us at IT Services to learn more about how we can help you and your business stay safe in this digital age. Remember, the best defense is a good offense, so don’t wait for a data breach to happen before taking action.