- Title: 'I live in constant fear' Bulgaria data breach victim says
- Date: 30th July 2019
- Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (Bulgarian) 55-YEAR-OLD ENGINEER, WHOSE PERSONAL DATA COULD POSSIBLY BE COMPROMISED, MARIANA KRASTEVA, SAYING: "Now I decided to check on the National Revenue Agency (NRA) site, they have made it possible (Ed's note: to check) whether my personal data got leaked, or if there was a security breach of my data. Now I am going to check." KRASTEVA'S HANDS TYPING ON KEYBOARD (SOUNDBITE) (Bulgarian) 55-YEAR-OLD ENGINEER, WHOSE PERSONAL DATA COULD POSSIBLY BE COMPROMISED, MARIANA KRASTEVA, SAYING: "There is a possibility for my ID card number to be leaked and this might be a big problem because it could be used for various abuses and embezzlement. That is why I might have to replace my ID card now, but this means spending a lot of time and money on it, including all the fees and taxes. It usually takes up to one month in a normal proceeding. There is an express service but it is more expensive. I do not know what one can do with my personal data during this time. All this means additional problems and inconvenience for us." KRASTEVA CHECKING HER PHONE (SOUNDBITE) (Bulgarian) 55-YEAR-OLD ENGINEER, WHOSE PERSONAL DATA COULD POSSIBLY BE COMPROMISED, MARIANA KRASTEVA, SAYING: "So there is some panic among people because we do not know what is going to happen and when somebody will take advantage of us (ed's note: our data)." KRASTEVA CLOSING FRONT DOOR OF HER APARTMENT AND GOING OUT KRASTEVA WALKING DOWN STREET VARIOUS OF KRASTEVA BUYING TOMATOES KRASTEVA DOING HER SHOPPING INSIDE SHOP KRASTEVA TALKING TO MAN OUTSIDE SHOP KRASTEVA WALKING HOME APARTMENT BLOCKS SOFIA, BULGARIA (JULY 29, 2019) (REUTERS) SIGN READING (Bulgarian): "NATIONAL REVENUE AGENCY" PEOPLE WALKING OUT OF NATIONAL REVENUE AGENCY BUILDING
- Embargoed: 13th August 2019 10:27
- Keywords: data breach cybersecurity in Bulgaria cyber attack personal data hacking
- Location: SOFIA, BULGARIA
- City: SOFIA, BULGARIA
- Country: Bulgaria
- Topics: Crime/Law/Justice,Editors' Choice
- Reuters ID: LVA003APYYG55
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Mariana Krasteva, a 55-year-old engineer, is one of more than four million Bulgarians, whose personal data was stolen in the country's biggest-ever cyber breach, leaving her fearful of what fraudsters might do with the information.
The leak has deeply unsettled many in the Balkan country of 7 million, one of the poorest and most corrupt European Union member states.
"I have to live in constant fear now," Krasteva said as she entered her details into a tool set up by the country's National Revenue Agency to check whether her personal information was included in the leak.
She said she was concerned that someone could claim ownership of her apartment and that she was intending to change her identity documents.
Prosecutors have charged the owner of a cybersecurity company and two of his employees with cyber-terrorism over the hacking of the country's tax agency and the theft of the personal and financial records of nearly every working adult.
The breach was made public on July 15, after an email with a link to the leaked data was sent to local media, calling the country's cybersecurity "a joke".
The tax agency said the leaked data was fragmented and not sufficient for eventual fraud. It has told banks to be extra vigilant and urged people not to change their ID cards.
(Production: Miroslav Roussinov, Malgorzata Wojtunik, Lewis Macdonald) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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