Lahore – According to reports, a series of data breaches has affected the foreign minister and thousands of other Pakistanis, and their data is now up for sale, as reported by Upfront News.
Data available for purchase includes the addresses of mobile SIM owners, call logs, copies of national identity cards, and details of overseas travel. The records encompass a wide range of individuals, from federal ministers to PTA spokespersons.
Last year, a private news channel issued similar warnings in October, but due to neglect, the practice continues, and thousands of Pakistanis fall victim to data leaks. The concerned authorities have remained silent and given assurances that such and such websites have been shut down.
The report states that numerous sites are selling sensitive data at affordable prices—mobile location data for Rs500, detailed mobile records for Rs2,000, and international travel information for Rs5,000. Intelligence sources caution that malicious actors might use this data to target individuals with little expense.
The Pakistanis who fell victim to this illegal practice are now demanding an explanation about how the leak could’ve possibly taken place and who is backing the data breach. A main question that arises is why no timely action was taken to stop the breach. The Interior Minister has directed the NCCIA to launch a detailed probe into the breach.
In order to determine those behind the breach, a 14‑member task force has been constructed, which will investigate and share its findings within two weeks.
