In a concerning development, a data breach has exposed the personal information of more than 2 million Pakistani citizens who had used software commonly employed in restaurants. Hackers successfully infiltrated and compromised the software, making the personal data of these individuals available for sale on the internet.
The hackers not only breached the system but also advertised the sale of this sensitive data online. Geo News managed to obtain images uploaded by the hackers, which contained samples of personal data from several Pakistani citizens. Among the data exposed were citizens’ credit card numbers and mobile phone numbers.
The hackers claim to have infiltrated the customer databases of over 250 restaurants, extracting valuable information such as how frequently a citizen dines at a particular restaurant and their payment history. This extensive data is now accessible on the internet, and the hackers are demanding a price of 2 Bitcoin for the entire dataset, which is equivalent to over 2 million Pakistani Rupees.
To put this in perspective, the current value of a single Bitcoin is approximately 27,000 USD, making the total cost for the data breach over 45,000 USD. This translates to more than 200 million Pakistani Rupees, a substantial sum.
The advertisement by the hackers not only includes personal data samples but also lists the names of various restaurants, ranging from small to large establishments, that use this specific software. It appears that this software is widely adopted in Pakistan’s restaurant industry, exposing a significant number of customers to potential data breaches.
As of now, there have been no reported complaints or legal actions related to this data breach. However, the breach raises serious concerns about data security and privacy in Pakistan. It highlights the need for stronger cybersecurity measures and regulations to protect individuals’ sensitive information in an increasingly digital world.
The incident serves as a reminder that data breaches can happen anywhere and affect a wide range of individuals. It underscores the importance of both individuals and businesses taking proactive steps to safeguard their data and adhere to robust cybersecurity practices to prevent such breaches in the future.
