Many mobile apps claim they need access to your location data in order to function properly. Some of them share or sell this data to location data brokers. These brokers compile data from various sources, piecing it together to form a detailed picture of user behaviours and movement patterns. They then sell this enriched data to a wide range of clients, including advertisers and marketers.
Now, one of those location data brokers, Gravy Analytics, appears to have been hacked. The breach allegedly includes precise location data, and other user information.
Privacy avocats have long warned about the risks of centralised bulk data storage. With the possibility of leaked information landing in underground markets, individuals could face severe safety and privacy threats. This incident underscores the critical need for robust data security protocols across industries.
What-to-do’s
Make sure to check off all actions, this will have a positive effect on your Behavioural Risk Score.
Lessons learned
This breach is a wake-up call about the dangers of bulk location data collection. When centralised databases are hacked, it can compromise individual privacy and public trust in data services.
