Hacker Might Have Hit 30 Other Organizations: Filing

Prosecutors say targets could include educational institutions
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Aug 14, 2019 4:59 PM CDT
Hacker's Damage Might Have Been Broader, Prosecutors Say
A security breach at Capital One Financial, one of the nation's largest issuers of credit cards, compromised the personal information of about 106 million people, and in some cases the hacker obtained Social Security and bank account numbers.   (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu, File)

Federal prosecutors say a woman charged in a major data breach at Capital One may have hacked more than 30 other organizations. Paige Thompson, of Seattle, was arrested last month after the FBI said she obtained personal information from more than 100 million Capital One credit applications. There is no evidence the data was sold or distributed to others. In a memorandum filed ahead of a detention hearing, rescheduled from Thursday to Aug. 22, the AP reports that the U.S. Attorney's Office in Seattle said servers found in Thompson's bedroom contained data stolen from more than 30 unnamed companies, educational institutions and other entities.

Prosecutors said much of that data did not appear to contain personal identifying information. Investigators are still working to identify the affected organizations. Thompson's attorney did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment Wednesday. The court filings include allegations against Thompson of stalking, per ZDNet, threats to "shoot up" a company, and threats to commit "suicide by cop."

(More data breach stories.)

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