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Russian Speaking Forum Leaks 153 Million US and Canadian Driver’s Licenses Online
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An online service listed on the Russian-speaking cybercrime forum Exploit offered access to more than 153 million driver’s licenses belonging to US and Canadian citizens, according to cybersecurity expert Brian Krebs
The Nexus service posted online in August also contained 10 million identity cards, 3 million passports, and nearly 580,000 medical records. The database even included special cards used for purchasing legal marijuana.
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The compromised records included the driver’s license of US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. The operator of the Nexus platform offered to provide a copy of the official's document as proof to Krebs.
Federal law enforcement authorities in the United States, including the FBI, are investigating the breach, while the landing page for the Nexus service now indicates that it is no longer active.
The creators of the service claimed they gathered the document scans by breaching a major identity verification IT platform used by numerous Fortune 500 companies. Between August 31, 2025, and September 1, 2026, the database expanded by another 400,000 entries.
Scans of documents belonging to Krebs and his mother appeared on the platform on the exact day they rented a vehicle from Hertz and provided their personal information.
Security researcher Zach Edwards discovered his own driver’s license in the database after presenting it at a Planet 13 cannabis dispensary. In 2022, identity verification provider IDScan secured a service agreement with Planet 13 in the United States.
IDScan states on its website that its services are utilized by major brands including Hertz, Target, FedEx, Motorola Solutions, and casino operator Caesars Entertainment. The company’s verification systems carry out over 21 million checks across more than 20,000 locations worldwide. Headquartered in New Orleans, Louisiana, IDScan stated that an internal investigation is currently underway.
In the United States, driver’s licenses serve as the primary form of national identification, frequently used to verify identity when applying for loans or opening bank accounts.
The physical cards are required for various daily functions, including proving age for purchasing alcohol or entering night venues, renting property, passing airport security checks, and securing entry into government facilities.
Russian state-backed hackers compromised internet-connected cameras across NATO countries, including the Netherlands, to collect intelligence on military shipments destined for Ukraine, according to Dutch intelligence services.
The operation targeted IP cameras positioned along military logistics routes, allowing Russian actors to monitor transportation movements and gather information about the types of weapons and equipment being delivered to Kyiv, according to an investigation by the Netherlands' General Intelligence and Security Service (AIVD) and Military Intelligence and Security Service (MIVD).
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