In a significant cybersecurity incident, Spain's largest bank, Santander, has confirmed a data breach involving unauthorized access to sensitive information. The breach, detected two weeks ago, was linked to a third-party provider's database and impacted employees and customers in Chile, Spain, and Uruguay.
The hacking group ShinyHunters, also responsible for a recent attack on Ticketmaster, claims to have compromised data belonging to 30 million individuals. This includes 28 million credit card numbers and 6 million account numbers and balances. Despite the group's assertions, Santander's Q1 2024 financial report indicates the bank only has 19.5 million customers in the affected countries.
ShinyHunters is reportedly selling the stolen data for $2 million on the dark web, as observed by Dark Web Informer.
To support their claims, the hackers have released samples of the data. While the legitimacy of these samples is yet to be confirmed, the threat underscores the growing menace posed by cybercriminals targeting major financial institutions.
Santander has taken immediate steps to protect client accounts and ensure that financial transactions remain secure.
The bank has also reached out to affected customers to apologize and reassure them that essential online financial information remains intact. Despite these efforts, cybersecurity experts caution about the potential risks associated with the breach.
This incident highlights the vulnerability of digital infrastructure to sophisticated cyberattacks and raises concerns about the security measures employed by financial institutions.
The breach follows closely on the heels of the FBI's seizure of BreachForums, a platform operated by ShinyHunters and another hacker known as Baphomet, further emphasizing the persistent threat posed by organized cybercriminal groups.
As investigations continue, the breach at Santander serves as a stark reminder of the critical importance of robust cybersecurity defenses in safeguarding sensitive financial data in an increasingly digital world.
