The IT Nerd

VPNMentor just published cybersecurity researcher Jeremiah Fowler’s latest findings, revealing an unprotected database linked to a platform that helps high school athletes secure college sports scholarships.

The database contained 3,154,239 records, totaling 135 GB, with personally identifiable information (PII), including names, emails, phone numbers, home addresses, and even passport image links for student-athletes.

The scale and sensitivity of the information raise serious risks of identity theft, financial fraud, and impersonation.

You can find the full report here: https://www.vpnmentor.com/news/report-prephero-breach/

VPNmentor just published a report about a data breach discovered by cybersecurity researcher Jeremiah Fowler, who uncovered over 520,000 exposed records contained in 200 GB of data belonging to TicketToCash customers, a tickets resale platform.

The exposed information includes concert and event tickets containing PII such as names, email addresses, physical addresses, partial credit card numbers and some more. If this kind of data falls on the wrong hands it could be used for phishing, identity theft, or even ticket duplication and resale.

You can find the full report here: https://www.vpnmentor.com/news/report-tickettocash-breach/

UPDATE: Erich Kron, security awareness advocate at KnowBe4, commented:

“The good news, if there is good news with over half a million people’s data being exposed, is that this was not discovered because it had been leaked on the dark web or by cybercriminals. We are fortunate this was discovered by an ethical security researcher and not a bad actor. It is still possible that a copy of this data has been stolen with nobody knowing, so it is still important that potential victims treat this situation as if the information was stolen, and that they be on alert for social engineering attacks and potential identity theft.

“TicketToCash should immediately start reviewing access logs and trying to determine if the exposed data was indeed stolen, or just at risk. They should also review and update their policies and procedures related to data security and credential management, to avoid issues like this in the future.”

vpnMentor just published a report about a major data breach discovered by cybersecurity researcher, Jeremiah Fowler, exposing nearly 8 million records contained in over 1TB of data and including UK healthcare workers’ passports, driver’s licenses, background checks, national insurance numbers, employment documents and some more.

You can find the full report here: https://www.vpnmentor.com/news/report-logezy-breach/

Recently VPNMentor published a report about an alarming increase of VPN demand in Papua New Guinea after the government shut down Facebook as a “test” conducted under the country’s anti-terrorism laws.

Their research team conducted an analysis of user demand data in PNG observing a 1,900% spike during the duration of the test.

You’ll find their report here: https://www.vpnmentor.com/news/papuanewguinea-vpn-surge/

The vpnMentor team has a new report out that explores the environmental impact of AI, while also shedding light on how it can be used to benefit the environment so we can better understand how to innovate responsibly and create a sustainable future for all.

Key findings at a glance:

• A 2024 study published in Nature Computational Science found that generative AI’s e-waste could reach 2.5 tons per year by 2030 if no waste-reduction measures are implemented.
• Researchers at UC Riverside found that by 2027, the global demand for water from AI-related activities could reach up to 6.6 billion m3 — roughly equivalent to the yearly water consumption of half of the United Kingdom. 
• Apple’s electricity usage increased by 35% from 2020 to 2023, reaching 3,487,000 MWh. Similarly, water usage at corporate facilities rose from 4,872,474 m3 in 2020 to 6,094,513 m3 in 2023, correlating with the cooling needs of AI activities and expanded infrastructure. 
• The most polluting servers are located in Mumbai, India, emitting 36.80 kg of CO2. The next most polluting servers are located in Sydney (32.08 kg of CO2) and Hong Kong (28.02 of CO2).

As we navigate the complexities of AI’s environmental impact, it becomes clear that innovation must go hand in hand with sustainability. While AI holds the promise of solving pressing global challenges, its development and operation can lead to significant carbon emissions and electronic waste.
You can access the report here: https://www.vpnmentor.com/blog/environmental-impact-of-ai-research/

The VPN Mentor research team analyzed the decline of companies across a variety of sectors, focusing on their failure to adapt to technological transformations or market shifts that led to significant restructuring or closure.

Key findings at a glance:

• Over 81.5% of companies were headquartered in the USA, many of them went from multi-billion dollar peaks to bankruptcy within a few years, while other regions like the UK, Japan and Canada contributed smaller percentages.
• US companies often face challenges adapting to rapid technological shifts due to their reliance on legacy systems and established practices, while European companies face regulatory constraints and high operational costs.
• The Technology and Retail sector showed the highest impact, as failure to innovate was a common pattern seen across companies in these sectors.
• The 2000s saw the dominance of ecommerce, this was a heavy blow to the Retail and entertainment companies which underestimated the shift and the new era of digital consumption.

The analysis of companies that failed to adapt to technological shifts provides valuable lessons for businesses today. The inability to recognize and respond to emerging trends often leads to missed opportunities and decline. On the other hand, businesses that embrace innovation early and stay ahead of market changes can emerge as leaders.

You can access their report here: https://www.vpnmentor.com/blog/companies-missing-technological-turnpoint-research/

Cybersecurity researcher Jeremiah Fowler uncovered an unprotected database belonging to Mars Hydro, a China-based company offering IoT grow lights and software applications. It contained 2.7 Billion records with a total size of 1.17 TB exposing Wi-Fi SSID network names, passwords, IP addresses, device ID numbers, email addresses and some more.

The unprotected database contained WiFi network names, passwords, IP addresses, device IDs, and API details, posing serious security risks. Unauthorized access to devices or networks, phishing attacks, intercepting data, eavesdropping or impersonation via MITM (man in the middle attacks). 

You can read the report here: https://www.vpnmentor.com/news/report-marshydro-breach/

VPN Mentor just published an Q&A report in which they delve deeper into AI’s groundbreaking technology and its impact on cybersecurity. Cybersecurity expert Jeremiah Fowler sheds light on the critical role that generative AI plays in safeguarding digital environments against evolving threats. 

You’ll find the full report here: https://www.vpnmentor.com/news/genai-and-cybersecurity/

VPN Mentor just released a report on the massive surge in VPN demand fuelled by age verification laws in the USA, its impact on Pornhub traffic, and the risks users face by flocking to VPNs. 

While VPNs help bypass restrictions, they also pose security risks. Many users rely on free or insecure VPNs, exposing themselves to data breaches, identity theft, and tracking. Their report highlights these dangers and offers guidance on choosing safe, privacy-focused VPN providers. 

You’ll find all the details to their findings here: https://www.vpnmentor.com/news/vpn-and-adult-sites-report/

VPN Mentor has published a report about an massive increase of VPN demand in the USA following the brief shut down of TikTok in the country. 

Their research team conducted an analysis of VPN demand data in the country observing a massive spike of 1566% just minutes after the app shut down and maintaining over 1400% in their last update. 

You’ll find all the details here: https://www.vpnmentor.com/news/tiktok-vpn-demand-surge/