In an op-ed for Motherboard, Troy Hunt discusses his interactions with so-called data-breach brokers. Hunt, who runs Have I Been Pwned?, said some of the hackers who deliver him data are data hoarders, while others have darker objectives. “But there are also those who seek to commoditise the data. They’re looking for remuneration to redistribute hacked accounts either privately or via darknet marketplaces. Others create shady services with a thin veneer of legitimacy to capitalize on the misfortune of those adversely impacted by the incident,” said Hunt, who also offered advice for dealing with brokers of breached information. “Act as though they’re not anonymous. If they feel uncomfortable with actions of the nature described above being attributed to them personally and believe anonymity is necessary, now’s a really good time for them to think about why that may be and ultimately, how sustainable that is.”
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