‘A treasure trove of information:’ Cybersecurity specialist says sensitive McMinnville records exposed online
A cybersecurity specialist discovered that sensitive city records from McMinnville, Oregon were exposed on the dark web and accessible in just a few clicks. The researcher described the breach as unusually easy to access, suggesting the exposed data was broad in scope.
Why this matters: When a city's records end up on the dark web three clicks away from anyone, that is not a technical glitch. It is a failure that can touch every resident who ever dealt with local government. Permits, court records, employment files, utility accounts — cities hold a lot about ordinary people, and most of those people had no choice but to hand it over. The ease of access here is the alarming part. If a specialist can find it instantly, so can someone with worse intentions.
Who should care: Cybersecurity · Privacy officers · Administrators
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