A cybercrime group known as ShinyHunters says it breached Florida’s driver license database and made off with roughly 200,000 records, including driver licenses, Social Security numbers, and home addresses. The group is reportedly demanding a ransom by Friday. State officials have not confirmed any breach, and the “forgot your password” function on the DAVID identity verification system was temporarily disabled Thursday afternoon before being restored.
A University of South Florida cybercrime professor says ShinyHunters is a financially motivated operation that has historically been truthful about the data it claims to hold, which means this threat deserves serious attention. If a breach is confirmed, victims would be notified by mail according to state protocol. In the meantime, experts recommend checking your credit reports, considering a credit freeze, and monitoring your financial accounts closely.
This story is still developing, and it’s a good reminder for all of us here on the Suncoast to stay proactive about personal data security. Identity theft can take months to untangle, so the earlier you act, the better. Have you ever dealt with a data breach or identity theft? Share your experience in the comments below.
