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Vietnam’s National Credit Database Hit By Cyberattack
- Written by Andrea Miliani Former Tech News Expert
- Fact-Checked by Sarah Frazier Former Content Manager
Vietnam’s cybersecurity agency announced on Thursday that hackers had attacked the Vietnam National Credit Information Center (CIC) and stolen a large database containing sensitive information on creditors.
In a rush? Here are the quick facts:
- Vietnam’s cybersecurity agency announced that hackers attacked the Vietnam National Credit Information Center.
- Malicious actors got access to sensitive data, including credit card and general personal information.
- Authorities suspect the hacker group Shiny Hunters is behind the attack.
According to Reuters , the attackers gained access to credit card details, payment records, risk analyses, and general personal data. Authorities have warned residents to remain vigilant and are investigating the breach.
“Initial investigation indicated signs of unauthorised access aimed at stealing personal data, with the extent of the breach still being assessed,” said the cybersecurity agency on Thursday.
Reuters also reported that the CIC, in a letter sent to financial institutions, confirmed it was investigating the incident and suspected the hacker group Shiny Hunters—a criminal organization known for targeting international companies such as Microsoft, Google, and Qantas—was behind the attack.
A few days ago, Google confirmed that Shiny Hunters was responsible for a separate cyberattack on its Salesforce systems.
The CIC added that the attack did not affect its services. “The incident has not disrupted operations or caused any damage, and the credit information service system remains fully functional,” stated the letter.
Vietnamese authorities have not disclosed details about the scale of the breach, including the number of victims or accounts affected. In a note to investors on Friday, JPMorgan warned that the incident could pose a risk to deposit flows and would likely increase cybersecurity costs for banks.
The Vietnamese government also released an announcement on its website, confirming the breach and assuring the public that authorities were working to contain the damage.
“The parties have synchronously deployed technical and professional measures to respond, verify, and ensure network security,” states the announcement, according to a Google translation. “People are also advised to be vigilant and avoid the risk of having their personal information exploited to spread malware, commit fraud, and misappropriate property.”
Image by Valentin Ciccarone, from Unsplash
Hackers Hijack Campus Washing Machines, Making Laundry Free
- Written by Kiara Fabbri Former Tech News Writer
- Fact-Checked by Sarah Frazier Former Content Manager
Hackers hijacked five smart washing machines at Amsterdam’s Spinozacampus, making the washings free.
In a rush? Here are the quick facts:
- Students washed clothes for free until DUWO shut the laundry room.
- 1,250 residents rely on overloaded analog machines on nearby Darlingstraat.
- Expert Sijmen Ruwhof warns hacked devices could launch larger cyberattacks.
More than 1,200 students living at the University of Amsterdam’s Spinozacampus have been unable to do their laundry since July after hackers broke into the digital payment system of five smart washing machines, as first reported by Folia .
The attackers modified the built-in payment system and allowed students to wash their clothes for free. The housing provider DUWO disabled the laundry room access because they could no longer afford to maintain the costs.
“Because we purchase the machines ourselves, we need the income to be able to continue offering laundry services to our residents at affordable prices,” a spokesperson for Duwo said to The Register .
The 1,250 campus residents now rely on ten outdated analog washing machines, as the hacked laundry facilities at Spinozacampus remain closed. However, students now face long delays as the older machines are often overloaded, with students reporting that sometimes only one works.
While most residents say the summer heat has been a bigger issue than the laundry, the incident highlights a growing cybersecurity risk.
Hacking expert Sijmen Ruwhof explained: “Smart devices, such as some speakers, washing machines or televisions, are connected to a network. Using a programme on your laptop, you can take control of a washing machine,” as reported by Folia
Ruwhof warned that hacked devices can be used for more than free laundry. “If thousands of those hacked internet connections simultaneously go to a large website such as NOS, that website will be down in no time,” reported Folia.
He also noted that finding the culprit is difficult and suspects a professional rather than curious students. Dutch law allows prison sentences of up to six years for such hacks. DUWO has now decided to switch back to analog machines, expected in mid-September.
