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Jeremiah Fowler, a cybersecurity researcher, found and informed WebsitePlanet about a database without password protection. It held around 121,000 user accounts of entrepreneurs and business leaders from Clarity.fm, a platform for connecting entrepreneurs with experts.
The database had 155,531 records, including 121,000 member profiles with personal and professional email addresses, hourly rates, past payments for consulting sessions, and internal ratings based on user feedback.
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Jeremiah Fowler believed the exposed records belonged to San Francisco-based Clarity.fm — a platform that connects entrepreneurs and professionals seeking advice or mentorship with experienced individuals in various fields. But he is not clear if the database was owned or managed by Clarity.fm or a third party contractor, websiteplane report reads.
Exposing personal and business email addresses can create major cybersecurity risks. Companies don’t disclose executive contacts to avoid harassment, spam, and security issues. Business leaders and investors are common targets for cybercriminals because of their wealth and access to funds, making them vulnerable to financial exploitation.
High-profile individuals often have connections to other investors, making them prime targets for cybercriminals. These criminals may try to misuse their personal information for social engineering or other fraudulent activities.
There is a growing risk of CEO fraud, also known as Business Email Compromise (BEC). This is when scammers impersonate the CEO to trick people into revealing sensitive information or making financial transactions. According to Forbes, CEO fraud cost the economy $26 billion from 2013 to 2019. In 2024, a criminal used deepfake technology to convince a finance worker to transfer $25 million. CEO fraud affects nearly 400 companies per day, with around 22,000 victims and $3 billion in losses over three years.
When contact information like personal or work emails is leaked, it’s crucial to take basic cybersecurity steps and reduce risks. It’s also important to inform people if their contact details have been exposed.
The database revealed a cloud storage account for profile pictures. Exposing additional storage accounts poses cybersecurity risks, allowing cybercriminals to launch targeted attacks and exploit vulnerabilities in the storage system or attempt credential theft using social engineering techniques.
According to researchers, nearly 98% of cyber crimes are a result of social engineering campaigns, which involve sharing sensitive information like credentials. This could lead to unauthorized access to the company’s cloud storage, allowing attackers to steal data or disrupt operations. Other serious risks include phishing, malware, and criminals gaining access to sensitive business accounts or internal documents due to exposed usernames and passwords from previous data breaches.
Jeremiah Fowler recommend that regular training sessions should be provided to employees to educate them about different types of social engineering attacks, including CEO fraud. This knowledge will help employees recognize suspicious requests and verify the authenticity of financial transactions, thus preventing fraud and safeguarding against financial loss and data theft. It is important to always verify requests for sensitive information or financial transactions, even if you believe you know the person you are communicating with. Use only official communication channels and known phone numbers to ensure the legitimacy of the interaction. Additionally, establish a clear approval process for financial transactions and changes to sensitive account information, requiring multiple layers of verification from multiple individuals or departments.
(Media Disclaimer: This report is based on research conducted internally and externally using different ways. The information provided is for reference only, and users are responsible for relying on it. Infosecbulletin is not liable for the accuracy or consequences of using this information by any means)
