The Indicator from Planet Money What’s supercharging data breaches?
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Oct 7, 2025 In this engaging discussion, experts reveal how data breaches have become increasingly common, with criminals adapting faster than defenders. Learn about the innovative tools cybercriminals use, including AI, to enhance their attacks. Discover how personal data is monetized and the alarming scope of breached records in the U.S. The podcast highlights the shift to subscription-based malware and the open sharing of tactics among criminals, contrasting sharply with companies' reluctance to disclose breaches. Get practical tips for safeguarding your data!
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Ransomware Victim Pages Exposed
- Michele Campobasso showed a ransomware site on the dark web with victim pages and countdowns demanding payment.
- The site listed caches of stolen data from high schools, hospitals, and entire cities as examples of breaches.
Have I Been Pwned Catalogs Billions
- Troy Hunt described building Have I Been Pwned to index public breach data and let people check if their accounts were exposed.
- He said he receives multiple new breaches daily and has indexed about 15 billion breached records.
Stolen Data Is Big Business
- Cybercriminals monetize stolen data aggressively, with large revenues from selling data products in short spans.
- Estimates show criminals made about $140 million in eight months from stolen-data products alone.