7-Eleven data breach affects over 185,000 people’s personal data

A significant data breach involving the convenience store giant 7-Eleven has impacted more than 185,000 individuals, compromising essential personal information such as names, birthdates, and physical addresses. This alarming incident, first reported in April, also involved the theft of phone numbers and email addresses. According to the data breach notification platform Have I Been Pwned, which tracks and alerts users about compromised data, 7-Eleven fell victim to a hack-and-extortion scheme. The group known as ShinyHunters has claimed responsibility for the breach, threatening to release the stolen data unless a ransom is paid. In communications with Maine's attorney general's office, 7-Eleven's chief information security officer, Jim Kastle, revealed that the hackers infiltrated an internal server that housed sensitive documents related to franchisees. Additionally, a report from Massachusetts' attorney general highlighted that the breach extended to include Social Security numbers and driver's license information, raising concerns about the potential for identity theft and fraud.