By Mantas Sabeckis
When cybercriminals say they’ve deleted stolen data, it’s mostly for show. From many cases we’ve seen, including big cybercrime gangs like LockBit, the data often stays hidden somewhere, even if it’s taken down from public websites.
Hackers have no reason to really delete it because they might want to use it later or sell it on to others. So, just because the pictures and details aren’t online anymore doesn’t mean the risk is gone.
Parents whose children’s information was stolen need to stay alert.
What can you do if you’re a victim?
Keep an eye on communications. Hackers or scammers might try to trick you by calling or sending emails that seem connected to the nursery or your child. Always think twice before trusting them and contact the nursery directly using a phone number or email you know is real.
Watch for identity theft signs. The stolen data could help criminals pretend to be your child or family member. This might include trying to open bank accounts or get credit in your name. Let your bank know about the breach and ask them to add extra protection to your accounts.
Protect your online information. Check privacy settings on social media and other sites to limit who can see your family’s details. Criminals often mix stolen information with public data to create convincing scams.
Remember to use official support. Follow any advice from the nursery, local police, or cybersecurity experts. They might offer monitoring services or other help.
Finally, prevention is key. Once personal information is stolen, it’s impossible to be 100% sure it’s gone for good. The best defense is making it as hard as possible for cybercriminals to get in, including strong passwords, updated software, and making sure your nursery actually has strong defenses in place.
Hackers may say sorry and act like they care, but really they just want to avoid attention and trouble. Most likely (and naturally) these criminals don’t have morals – they have motives. Only a strong defense by organizations and active awareness by parents can protect children’s privacy in the future.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Mantas Sabeckis is a senior security researcher at Cybernews, specializing in identifying data leaks, detecting vulnerabilities, and enhancing the security of AI systems. With a strong commitment to responsible disclosure, he collaborates with both large corporations and small organizations to help them address security issues before they can be exploited. Mantas’s work centers on understanding how sensitive data is exposed and sharing insights that contribute to stronger cybersecurity practices. His mission is clear: to make the internet a safer place for everyone by advancing research, promoting responsible security measures, and supporting initiatives that protect digital ecosystems. He’s been quoted by CNN, Metro UK, The Independent, WRAL News, and more.
ABOUT CYBERNEWS
Cybernews is a globally recognized independent media outlet where journalists and security experts debunk cyber by research, testing, and data. Founded in 2019 in response to rising concerns about online security, the site covers breaking news, conducts original investigations, and offers unique perspectives on the evolving digital security landscape. Through white-hat investigative techniques, Cybernews research team identifies and safely discloses cybersecurity threats and vulnerabilities, while the editorial team provides cybersecurity-related news, analysis, and opinions by industry insiders with complete independence. For more, visit www.cybernews.com.
Cybernews has earned worldwide attention for its high-impact research and discoveries, which have uncovered some of the internet’s most significant security exposures and data leaks. Notable ones include:
Cybernews researchers discovered multiple open datasets comprising 16 billion login credentials from infostealer malware, social media, developer portals, and corporate networks – highlighting the unprecedented risks of account takeovers, phishing, and business email compromise.
Cybernews researchers analyzed 156,080 randomly selected iOS apps – around 8% of the apps present on the App Store – and uncovered a massive oversight: 71% of them expose sensitive data.
Bob Dyachenko, a cybersecurity researcher and owner of SecurityDiscovery.com, and the Cybernews security research team discovered an unprotected Elasticsearch index, which contained a wide range of sensitive personal details related to the entire population of Georgia.
The team analyzed the new Pixel 9 Pro XL smartphone’s web traffic, and found that Google's latest flagship smartphone frequently transmits private user data to the tech giant before any app is installed.
The team revealed that a massive data leak at MC2 Data, a background check firm, affects one-third of the US population.
The Cybernews security research team discovered that 50 most popular Android apps require 11 dangerous permissions on average.
They revealed that two online PDF makers leaked tens of thousands of user documents, including passports, driving licenses, certificates, and other personal information uploaded by users.
An analysis by Cybernews research discovered over a million publicly exposed secrets from over 58 thousand websites’ exposed environment (.env) files.
The team revealed that Australia’s football governing body, Football Australia, has leaked secret keys potentially opening access to 127 buckets of data, including ticket buyers’ personal data and players’ contracts and documents.
The Cybernews research team, in collaboration with cybersecurity researcher Bob Dyachenko, discovered a massive data leak containing information from numerous past breaches, comprising 12 terabytes of data and spanning over 26 billion records.
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