An attempted data breach targeting Santander staff and customers has caused concern, with hackers claiming to have confidential information available for sale. The bank has acknowledged the breach, confirming that data has been stolen, and is actively reaching out to affected individuals. While no transactional data or credentials that could lead to unauthorized account access were compromised, sensitive information from customers in Chile, Spain, and Uruguay, as well as current and former employees, has been accessed. The hackers, known as ShinyHunters, have allegedly leaked details of 30 million bank accounts, 6 million account numbers, 28 million credit card numbers, and HR information for staff members. However, Santander has not verified the accuracy of these claims.
This breach is linked to a larger cyber attack involving a cloud storage company, Snowflake, with hackers reportedly gaining access through stolen login details. Snowflake has confirmed potentially unauthorized access to a limited number of customer accounts but reassures the public that no sensitive data was compromised. Despite concerns, experts warn against jumping to conclusions about ShinyHunters’ claims, as they may be exaggerated for attention. The FBI is involved in addressing the breach, along with cooperation from the Australian government and cyber-security experts, to safeguard affected individuals and prevent further data breaches.
Vocabulary List:
- Breach (noun): An act of accessing a computer system or network without authorization.
- Confidential (adjective): Intended to be kept secret or private.
- Compromised (verb): Exposed to riskdangeror harm.
- Allegedly (adverb): Used to convey that something is claimed to be the casealthough there is no conclusive evidence.
- Exaggerated (adjective): Enlarged or altered beyond normal proportions.
- Safeguard (verb): Protect from harm or damage.
