Man Caught With Stolen Data on 9M People

Greek police catch man with identity card details, tax numbers, and more
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Nov 20, 2012 2:21 PM CST
Man Caught With Stolen Data on 9M People
The suspect allegedly had 9 million personal files.   (Shutterstock)

A man in Greece has been arrested on suspicion of having stolen 9 million personal data files in what is believed to be the biggest breach of private information the country has ever seen. Police said today that the 35-year-old, whose name was not released, was found in possession of the data files that included identity card details, tax numbers, vehicle license plate numbers, and home addresses.

If all the victims are Greek, the theft could encompass roughly 90% of the country's population. But the files appeared to include duplicate entries, meaning the number of individuals affected could be lower. Authorities are investigating how the man, who faces felony charges of data theft, came into possession of the files and whether he intended to sell the list. (More Greece stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X