500K Fake IDs Created from Stolen Child Records

Posted: May 10, 2017 to News.

Tags: Data Breach, Malware, Compliance

A hacker known as “Skyscraper” reported that the records of approximately 500,000 children and their parents can be found on the dark web by simply searching “patients.” While most of these records originate from compromised pediatricians using outdated software, still another 200,000 were actually taken from schools. These records can be bought for around $600 - $1200 a pop, depending on the depth of information, included names, DOBs, addresses, and, scarily, SSNs. And one of the worst things is that most of the providers are likely unaware that their data has been breached. This can be seen by the fact that the number of stolen records reported is significantly less than the number of stolen records available on the dark web. What are the implications of that? It means that hackers and criminals who purchase this information have easily build and maintain fake identities until for many years until the breach is eventually uncovered.

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Craig Petronella

CEO, Founder & AI Architect, Petronella Technology Group

Craig Petronella founded Petronella Technology Group in 2002 and has spent more than 30 years working at the intersection of cybersecurity, AI, compliance, and digital forensics. He holds the CMMC Registered Practitioner credential (RP-1372) issued by the Cyber AB, is an NC Licensed Digital Forensics Examiner (License #604180-DFE), and completed MIT Professional Education programs in AI, Blockchain, and Cybersecurity. Craig also holds CompTIA Security+, CCNA, and Hyperledger certifications.

He is an Amazon #1 Best-Selling Author of 15+ books on cybersecurity and compliance, host of the Encrypted Ambition podcast (95+ episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Amazon), and a cybersecurity keynote speaker with 200+ engagements at conferences, law firms, and corporate boardrooms. Craig serves as Contributing Editor for Cybersecurity at NC Triangle Attorney at Law Magazine and is a guest lecturer at NCCU School of Law. He has served as a digital forensics expert witness in federal and state court cases involving cybercrime, cryptocurrency fraud, SIM-swap attacks, and data breaches.

Under his leadership, Petronella Technology Group has served 2,500+ clients, maintained a zero-breach record among compliant clients, earned a BBB A+ rating every year since 2003, and been featured as a cybersecurity authority on CBS, ABC, NBC, FOX, and WRAL. The company leverages SOC 2 Type II certified platforms and specializes in AI implementation, managed cybersecurity, CMMC/HIPAA/SOC 2 compliance, and digital forensics for businesses across the United States.

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500K Fake IDs Created from Stolen Child Records

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