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Billion-record stolen Chinese database for sale on breach forum

theregister.com

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Re: Billion-record stolen Chinese database for sale on breach forum

#3
What do we do now?

It seems the majority of people on the planet now have had some of their data leaked. Or are becoming ever more entangled with government and corporate systems which control and peddle their information as they see fit.

Is it ultimately a big nothing burger, or is this some singularity we are passing through?

Re: Billion-record stolen Chinese database for sale on breach forum

#4
post #3

What do we do now? It seems the majority of people on the planet now have had some of their data leaked. Or are becoming ever more entangled with government and corporate systems which control and peddle their information as they see fit. Is it ultimately a big nothing burger, or is this some singularity we are passing through?

In history what have databases of people and state actor interests usually led to if any events are similar?

Re: Billion-record stolen Chinese database for sale on breach forum

#5

This has to be the largest leak of personal information yet, right?

A lot of the press is saying it is, but unclear since “entries” is as vague as the “records” in this 1.2 billion leak:

https://www.wired.com/story/billion-records-exposed-online/

Appears this leak is a single dataset — one I linked to is multiple datasets.

Re: Billion-record stolen Chinese database for sale on breach forum

#6
post #3

What do we do now? It seems the majority of people on the planet now have had some of their data leaked. Or are becoming ever more entangled with government and corporate systems which control and peddle their information as they see fit. Is it ultimately a big nothing burger, or is this some singularity we are passing through?

It is both. It is huge, I'd say it's absolutely the latter. but I can't think of a single thing anyone can do about any of it at this point, which also makes it the former.

Re: Billion-record stolen Chinese database for sale on breach forum

#9
post #3

What do we do now? It seems the majority of people on the planet now have had some of their data leaked. Or are becoming ever more entangled with government and corporate systems which control and peddle their information as they see fit. Is it ultimately a big nothing burger, or is this some singularity we are passing through?

A lot of data may be made public to equalize, similarly to how real estate property rights or car registries may be public.

Re: Billion-record stolen Chinese database for sale on breach forum

#10
post #3

What do we do now? It seems the majority of people on the planet now have had some of their data leaked. Or are becoming ever more entangled with government and corporate systems which control and peddle their information as they see fit. Is it ultimately a big nothing burger, or is this some singularity we are passing through?

In history what have databases of people and state actor interests usually led to if any events are similar?

I would say, impossible to compare. Digital changes the cost of acting upon this information, for good or bad purposes.

Obvious comparisons to e.g. the Netherlands' famous over-registering of religion and how the Nazis abused that. But I feel this is long term potentially worse than that. Not in the level of horribleness, but in the effect on society moving forward.

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