your banking details may be in the wild

The announcement of a massive data leak sows panic among Free subscribers. On X, a user named @_SaxX_ shared an ad posted on the “Cybercrime Amazon” and this one is scary enough. The hacker claims to have in his possession the personal data of 19,192,948 customer accounts, including 5.11 million IBAN details. The acquired database would include sensitive personal information, such as:

• First and last names
• Phone numbers
• Postal addresses
• Dates of birth
• Email addresses
• Etc…

The suspected hacker is looking to put this data up for sale but has not yet set a Price. His post indicates that he wishes to enter into direct negotiations “via an escrow system” to guarantee a transaction. A sample of information was provided to prove the content of the leak, but false sales of this type are starting to multiply with the development of generative artificial intelligence. In the absence of an official press release from Free, it is therefore impossible to prove this mass piracy.

On X, @_SaxX_ raises some points of doubt, such as the recent creation of the seller’s account. But since the leak seems to date back to October 17, the operator should not delay in communicating on this subject if the facts are true.

What measures should you put in place to protect yourself?

Unfortunately, this type of situation keeps repeating itself. Following the cyberattack that hit SFR in September, it is strongly recommended to put in place all possible security measures to avoid possible repercussions. Many features now allow you to protect yourself without too much effort.

Password managers are now built into most smartphones and browsers and are an essential tool for preventing account takeovers. Also remember to activate two-factor authentication when sites and applications offer it to you.

Even if the Free leak has not yet been proven, it is still advisable to update your password, especially if it is used on other platforms. Finally, don’t hesitate to update your phones and computers. These patches fix the latest security vulnerabilities, and no: updates won’t slow down your phone, so protect yourself.

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