Classic magazines data breach

[Robby]

Mortons media group, also known classicmagazines.co.uk have just disclosed a data breach.

It happened back in October 2022, and included name, sort code, account number.

The notification email is pretty thin, and there doesn't seem to be much about it elsewhere yet.

I expect this will be the final nail in the coffin for the classic bike magazines. I'm also somewhat peeved that they managed to lose one of the few bits of information that I can't easily change.

[A100man]

[Robby]

Every cheque you write didn't generally have the ability to be uploaded into data dumps and make that information easily accessible to the sort of people you don't want to have it. Back then, it was the kind of information that might be acquired from a targeted attack and the security controls in place, like the direct debit guarantee, protect more against that.

The main thing this information could be used for is setting up direct debits, including for less scrupulous money transfer services (paypal without the account verification). People are covered by the direct debit guarantee, but that still means noticing the direct debit happening and contacting your bank to stop it. Some people won't notice.

The magazine industry always seems to be teetering on the edge of existence. I expect there will be enough cancelled subscriptions from this to finish them off.

[Easy-X]

This is how it works...

Some hacker gets a database dump. It's not particularly valuable information on its own so it gets sold for a pittance on Deep Web illicit data exchange markets. A buyer might combine several of these cheap dumps to form a meta list which again gets sold off. Basically each hacker selling on the list might try to expand it to add "value" and therefore increase the selling price.

Anyhoo, what are now fragments of the original hack will be used by phishing groups. "Hi, Mr. Jones, I'm from the bank... yes I can prove it, your sort code and account number are..." etc. and so someone who was into bikes maybe 20 years ago (and bought this classic bike magazine) now has a touch of dementia will get ripped off for all their pension money 'cos some admin was slack about security
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Husqvarna Vitpilen 401, Yamaha XSR700, Honda Rebel, Yamaha DT175, Suzuki SV650 (loan) Fazer 600, Keeway Superlight 125, 50cc turd scooter

[A100man]