Technology - Main

Credit card details on 20 million South Koreans stolen

21 Jan 2014 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Credit card details from almost half of all South Koreans have been stolen and sold to marketing firms.

The data was stolen by a computer contractor working for a company called the Korea Credit Bureau that produces credit scores.

The names, social security numbers and credit card details of 20 million South Koreans were copied by the IT worker.

The scale of the theft became apparent after the contractor at the centre of the breach was arrested.
Unprotected data

Managers at the marketing firms which allegedly bought the data were also arrested.

Early reports suggest that the contractor got hold of the giant trove of data thanks to the access Korea Credit Bureau enjoys to databases run by three big South Korean credit card firms. The contractor stole the data by copying it to a USB stick.

Regulators are now looking into security measures at the three firms - KB Kookmin Card, Lotte Card, and NH Nonghyup Card - to ensure data stays safe. A task force has been set up to investigate the impact of the theft.

The three bosses of the credit card firms involved made a public apology for the breach.

In a statement the Financial Services Commission, Korea's national financial regulator, said: "The credit card firms will cover any financial losses caused to their customers due to the latest accident."

Another official at the FSC said the data was easy to steal because it was unencrypted and the credit card firms did not know it had been copied until investigators told them about the theft.

This theft of consumer data is just the latest to hit South Korea. In 2012, two hackers were arrested for getting hold of the details of 8.7 million subscribers to KT Mobile. Also, in 2011, details of more than 35 million accounts of South Korean social network Cyworld were exposed in an attack.

(Source : BBC)

Technology - Main

Credit card details on 20 million South Koreans stolen

Most Popular Articles

2026 FIFA World Cup Schedule in Sri Lankan Standard Time

Breaking Down the Israel–Iran Conflict: What We Know So Far - Day 108

’’Cut out the noise, focus on your game’’; Sri Lanka great reaches out to Sooryavanshi

Mother wins three-decade legal battle over property against son

Gold Price Today in Sri Lanka – 22K & 24K Rates, Trends, and Investment Guide

Struggling Pizza Hut chain to be sold for $2.7bn

Latest News

Trump threatens to resume bombing campaign if Iran does not ’’behave’’

DVT emerging as ‘silent killer’ among young due to sedentary lifestyles, doctors warn

Iran sends tankers loaded with oil past US military blockade

Sathosa reduces prices of essential goods islandwide

’I’m the boss’, Trump tells G7 counterparts