Concerns Over Personal Data Leaks and Cyber Frauds in Russia
During the SOC forum, Stanislav Kuznetsov, the Deputy Chairman of the Board of Sberbank, disclosed alarming information regarding personal data security in Russia. He revealed that personal data of nearly 90% of the country’s adult population is at risk. Kuznetsov highlighted that approximately 3.5 billion lines of personal data have already been exposed on the internet, indicating a dire situation.
An analysis conducted by Sberbank for the periods of 2023 and early 2024 identified online stores and medical institutions as the primary sources of data breaches. Contrary to popular belief, Kuznetsov stated that credit organizations contribute to less than 2% of total data leaks. Although 2023 witnessed a peak in data breaches, there has been a slight improvement in 2024. However, the issue remains prevalent and concerning.
Kuznetsov also raised concerns over the increasing number of fraudulent calls targeting Russian citizens in 2024. The peak of such calls, reaching around 20 million per day, was observed in February-March. Although the daily number has reduced to 6-6.5 million calls, the sophistication of fraud schemes has heightened, posing a greater threat.
Furthermore, Sberbank predicted that the theft of funds from Russian citizens in 2024 could amount to 250 billion rubles. In the cyber age, the overall economic damage to Russia from cyber attacks in 2023 and 2024 might reach approximately one trillion rubles by year-end, provided no significant changes occur in the current scenario.