Massive Florida DMV data breach hits current and former residents

Florida has started sending out notifications about a large-scale data breach at the state's Department of Motor Vehicles. The incident reaches beyond current residents to affect former Floridians as well.

The breach has been linked to ShinyHunters, a group known for a string of high-profile intrusions and thefts of corporate and government databases.

Because motor-vehicle agencies hold the records needed to issue driver's licenses and register vehicles, such databases are a tempting target: they concentrate the personal data of a great many citizens. Issuing formal alerts is a standard step when there is reason to believe a wide pool of people has been affected.

At the time of writing, details about the volume of compromised data and the circumstances of the breach remain limited to what has been reported. Residents and former residents who receive a notice would do well to take it seriously.

Source: Ars Technica