Data Theft: Cyberabad police issues notice to Big Basket, PhonePe and others

Hyderabad: In response to the recent data theft case, the Cyberabad police have issued notices to various companies, including banks, finance institutions, IT companies, OTT, e-commerce websites, and e-learning centres. Companies such as Big Basket, Phone Pay, Facebook, Policy Bazaar, Axis Bank, Bank of Baroda, HDFC, SBI, and Tech Mahindra, among others, have received notices seeking an explanation for the leak of user data.

Speaking to NewsMeter, an official of Special Task Force (on condition of anonymity) said, “Notices were sent to gain a better understanding of how the accused were able to steal the data. The police are determined to investigate the matter thoroughly and have called upon the companies to provide their cooperation in the investigation.”

To prevent such incidents in the future, the Cyberabad police have formulated a plan to write letters to these companies with 20 points to create awareness of the necessary precautions to safeguard user data. Employers will be advised to conduct awareness programs for their employees and staff, while the police will focus on implementing provisions of the Information Act.

Additionally, users have been urged to take necessary precautions regarding their mobile numbers, Aadhaar card, and other sensitive information. Awareness programs will also be organized to educate users on downloading applications from Play Store and setting up mobile devices securely. The Cyberabad police are committed to ensuring the safety of user data and preventing such incidents from occurring in the future.

Data Theft Case

Cyberabad Police have arrested Vinay Bhardwaj, who is allegedly involved in India's biggest data theft case, in which personal and confidential data of 66.9 crore individuals and organisations across 24 states and 8 metropolitan cities was collected and sold illegally. The accused had data of students, cab users, salaried employees, and customers of major organisations such as Amazon, Netflix, and Paytm, among others. He operated through a website called "Inspire Webz" in Faridabad and sold the data through cloud drive links. The police have advised people to be cautious and have launched an investigation to identify other individuals and organisations involved in the case.