Paige Thompson Capital One Data Breach and Its Aftermath

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A woman with blue hair types on a keyboard in a dark, tech-themed room, implying cybersecurity work.
Credit: pexels.com, A woman with blue hair types on a keyboard in a dark, tech-themed room, implying cybersecurity work.

Paige Thompson's actions had severe consequences, including the Capital One data breach, which exposed over 106 million individuals' sensitive information, including Social Security numbers and bank account details.

The breach occurred when Thompson exploited a vulnerability in a web application firewall, allowing her to gain access to the company's data storage systems.

In July 2019, Thompson was arrested and charged with a single count of computer fraud and abuse, and later pleaded guilty to the charges.

Capital One Hack

The Capital One Hack was a significant data breach that occurred in March 2019.

The hack affected around 100 million people in the United States and about 6 million people in Canada.

The breach involved sensitive information such as phone numbers, email addresses, dates of birth, and self-reported income.

Credit scores, credit limits, and balances were also accessed, as well as fragments of transaction information from 23 days in 2016, 2017, and 2018.

Credit: youtube.com, 'She Did it Just Because She Could': Roommate of Woman Accused in Capital One Data Breach Speaks Out

Capital One said it is unlikely that the information was used for fraud, but the investigation is ongoing.

The company will notify people affected by the breach and offer free credit monitoring and identity protection.

Capital One expects to incur between $100 million and $150 million in costs related to the hack.

The company's CEO, Richard Fairbank, apologized for the incident and committed to making it right.

The hack occurred between March 22 and 23, 2019, and involved credit card applications as far back as 2005.

However, no credit card account numbers or log-in credentials were compromised, and over 99% of Social Security numbers were not affected.

The hacker, Paige Thompson, posted the information on GitHub and boasted about it on social media.

She also explained the method she used to break into Capital One on a Slack channel, using a special command to extract files from Amazon's servers.

Paige Thompson, the individual behind the Capital One data breach, could face serious legal consequences. She allegedly exploited a vulnerability in the company's API, which allowed her to access sensitive customer data.

Credit: youtube.com, Accused Capital One hacker indicted for federal crimes

The breach exposed over 100 million Capital One customers' personal data, including Social Security numbers and bank account information. This data was stored on Amazon Web Services (AWS) servers.

Thompson's actions could lead to charges of wire fraud, unauthorized access to a computer, and identity theft. These charges carry significant fines and potential prison time.

The FBI arrested Thompson in July 2019, and she was later charged with a single count of computer fraud. Her case highlights the importance of robust security measures in protecting sensitive customer data.

Investigation

The investigation into Paige Thompson's activities began with a warning on GitHub. An unnamed user alerted Capital One to a potential data breach on July 17.

This warning was followed by a swift response from Capital One, which determined on July 19 that an unauthorized individual had accessed and obtained personal information about customers.

The FBI was subsequently able to identify Thompson as the likely culprit, likely due to her alleged bragging on GitHub about stealing Capital One data.

Felicia Koss

Junior Writer

Felicia Koss is a rising star in the world of finance writing, with a keen eye for detail and a knack for breaking down complex topics into accessible, engaging pieces. Her articles have covered a range of topics, from retirement account loans to other financial matters that affect everyday people. With a focus on clarity and concision, Felicia's writing has helped readers make informed decisions about their financial futures.

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