It sure looks like hackers breached a major ID card verification service
News Source
β’Wed, 02 Sep 2026 19:35:09 +0000
π° What Happened
Hackers appear to have breached a big ID verification company. Security journalist Brian Krebs says the firm is IDScan, based in Louisiana. Its data includes driver's licences and passports of Americans and Canadians.
A dark web site named Nexus now lets buyers search more than 150 million ID documents. It adds about half a million new ones daily. That suggests near-live access to the company's systems.
Krebs found his own licence in the data. Even Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth was listed with a photo. The Pentagon says it is checking the reports.
π The Backstory
ID verification has become common everywhere. Bars, car rentals, shops, and apps all scan identity documents. That means huge databases of personal data sit with a few private firms.
This is not the first ID breach. Companies in this field have been hit before. Once scans are stolen, they are hard to take back. IDs do not expire like credit cards.
Criminals use stolen IDs for loans, benefits fraud, and opening accounts. The dark web market for them is huge and organised.
π― Why It Matters
If your ID was scanned anywhere, it may be in this leak. You cannot change your face or your birth date. Identity theft can chase people for years and cost them money and peace of mind.
Hackers appear to have breached a big ID verification company. Security journalist Brian Krebs says the firm is IDScan, based in Louisiana. Its data includes driver's licences and passports of Americans and Canadians.
A dark web site named Nexus now lets buyers search more than 150 million ID documents. It adds about half a million new ones daily. That suggests near-live access to the company's systems.
Krebs found his own licence in the data. Even Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth was listed with a photo. The Pentagon says it is checking the reports.
ID verification has become common everywhere. Bars, car rentals, shops, and apps all scan identity documents. That means huge databases of personal data sit with a few private firms.
This is not the first ID breach. Companies in this field have been hit before. Once scans are stolen, they are hard to take back. IDs do not expire like credit cards.
Criminals use stolen IDs for loans, benefits fraud, and opening accounts. The dark web market for them is huge and organised.
If your ID was scanned anywhere, it may be in this leak. You cannot change your face or your birth date. Identity theft can chase people for years and cost them money and peace of mind.