Hackers stole a 2019 backup database holding the personal details of millions of users, PeopleConnect, the company behind the background check services TruthFinder and Instant Checkmate, acknowledged that they experienced a data breach.
Customers can run background checks on others using subscription-based services like TruthFinder and Instant Checkmate. Access to numerous databases containing personal data, including email addresses, physical addresses, social media profiles, arrest histories, and phone numbers, is offered.
Data for 20.22 million potential TruthFinder and Instant Checkmate users who utilized the services up to April 16th, 2019, were allegedly leaked on January 21 by a member of the Breached cybercrime and data breach forum.
When Have I Been Pwned's Troy Hunt informed PeopleConnect of the data leak, the business promptly initiated an investigation and reiterated that it intended to make the situation official? TruthFinder and Instant Checkmate received notifications from PeopleConnect stating that there had been a data breach on both sites.
"The list, which appears to cover all client accounts created between 2011 and 2019, was made, as we have confirmed, several years ago. Our organization produced the list that was published. Although our investigation is ongoing, it looks that this was an accidental list release or theft. It does not appear that any user activity, such as reports or queries on our system, was involved in the published list in question, and it does not appear that payment information, passwords that can be read or used, or other methods of breaching user accounts were involved," the data security firm told.
The business hired a cybersecurity organization from outside to look into the event, but there was no sign that their network had been compromised. PeopleConnect advises that targeted phishing attempts are to be on the lookout for and will provide more updates as new information becomes available.
