The German car manufacturer Volkswagen is not doing very well. The company plans to reduce capacity in five factories, reducing production by about 700,000 vehicles, and also lay off more than 35,000 workers in the home country. Now, reports suggest the company had a major data breach at its software subsidiary Cariad, which exposed personal data, including geolocation data, of about 800,000 electric vehicle owners online and available for months. Such information could be valuable to criminals for extortion purposes. Interestingly, the hacker association notified the company about this data leak after receiving a tip from an anonymous hacker.
I’M GIVING AWAY THE LATEST AND BEST AIRPODS PRO 2
Participate in the giveaway by logging in to my free newsletter.
Image of the VW sign (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
What you need to know about data breaches
As reported by the German magazine Der Spiegel, Volkswagen is facing a major data security problem after the movement data of 800,000 electric cars and the personal contact details of their owners were exposed on the Internet. This data revealed sensitive details, such as the exact locations where cars were parked, including private locations like people’s homes, government buildings and even questionable places like public houses.
The exposed data includes detailed movement patterns of these vehicles, enabling the creation of comprehensive profiles of individuals’ daily activities. This could be of particular concern to public figures or anyone concerned about privacy.
Several car brands within the Volkswagen Group, including VW, Audi, Seat and Skoda, were affected by the breach, which exposed sensitive data in multiple countries. The data was stored on Amazon’s cloud servers without adequate protection, leaving it vulnerable for months before the problem was discovered.
For about 466,000 of the 800,000 affected vehicles, the location data was detailed enough to map drivers’ daily routines. Spiegel reported that the list of affected users includes German politicians, business leaders, the entire fleet of electric vehicles used by the Hamburg police, and even suspected intelligence agents.
The breach came to light when an anonymous hacker tipped off the Chaos Computer Club. While Volkswagen left the data readily available during that time, there is no indication so far that it was misused or maliciously accessed.
We reached out to Volkswagen for comment but did not hear back by our deadline.
VW emblem on the vehicle (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
AI-POWERED GRANDMOTHER IN SCAM VOLUME
How can this data leak affect you?
The Volkswagen data leak is more than a technical problem. This is a real concern for anyone who values their privacy. With accurate outdoor location data, someone could discover where you live, work or spend your free time. This information can be misused in many ways, from targeted scams where hackers pretend to be Volkswagen or its partners to trick you into giving away sensitive information, to more personal threats like stalking or harassment.
Imagine someone knowing your daily routine or identifying the places you visit that you want to keep private. Visits to clinics, law offices or other sensitive places could expose you to embarrassment or blackmail.
The breach also raises concerns for business leaders, government officials and military personnel as their movements associated with high-security or restricted areas could be exposed, increasing the risk of corporate espionage or national security threats. Moreover, when combined with other vulnerabilities, such as app credentials, hackers could potentially use the data to unlock or even control the vehicle remotely.
VW electric SUV (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
ONE SIMPLE TRICK FOR CYBER PROTECTION ON IPHONE
6 Ways to Stay Safe After This Breach
In light of the recent Volkswagen data breach, it is critical to take proactive measures to protect your personal information. Here are 6 ways to stay safe after this leak:
1) Check the application settings: Review permissions and data sharing settings in your car’s companion app. Disable features that track or share your location if they are not essential to your use. Update the app regularly to ensure you have the latest security patches.
2) Beware of scams: Watch out for suspicious emails, messages or calls pretending to be from Volkswagen or related services. Avoid clicking on links or sharing sensitive information without verifying the sender.
3) Consider data opt-out options: Many vehicles with network features allow you to limit or disable certain data sharing functions. Check your car’s settings to reduce the amount of personal data collected.
4) Strengthen your online accounts: If you use the same email or password on multiple accounts, update them immediately. Enable two-factor authentication wherever possible to add an extra layer of security to your accounts.
5) Beware of mail scams: While most people focus on digital threats, physical mail scams can also follow a data breach like this one. If your contact details were exposed, you could receive fraudulent letters pretending to be from Volkswagen or related services. They may ask for payments, personal information, or even trick you into visiting fake websites.
6) Install strong antivirus software: Make sure you have strong antivirus software installed on all your devices, especially those connected to your vehicle or its apps. This can help protect you from malicious links that install malware, potentially accessing your personal information. This protection can also alert you to phishing emails and ransomware scams, keeping your personal information and digital assets safe. Get my picks for the best 2025 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS devices.
30% OF AMERICANS OVER 65 WANT TO BE REMOVED FROM THE WEB. HERE’S WHY
Kurt’s key to the outside
The Volkswagen data leak is a glaring example of how companies need to take the security of user data more seriously. Disclosing personal information and exact locations is not just a technical error. It’s a massive breach of trust. Although VW has fixed the problem, the damage shows how important it is for companies to be more responsible with the data they collect. People deserve to know that their data is secure and only used when necessary. If companies cannot protect the privacy of their customers, they risk losing their trust completely. It’s time for the industry to step up and be better.
Do you think there should be stricter regulations for companies that process user data? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com/Contact.
For more of my tech tips and security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report newsletter by going to Cyberguy.com/Newsletter.
Ask Kurt a question or tell us what stories you want us to cover.
Follow Kurt on his social channels:
Answers to the most frequently asked CyberGuy questions:
New from Kurt:
Copyright 2024 CyberGuy.com. All rights reserved.
