Warning for drivers! Your data may have been leaked! Register your PESEL number immediately! | Warsaw in a nutshell

Holding 1, known, among others, as the owner of the Polish Dealers Group and the company Traficar, suffered a serious leak of personal data. According to Niebezpiecznik.pl, hackers gained access to various sensitive information about their clients, including addresses, PESEL numbers, ID card numbers and even driver’s license numbers.

The data obtained, which also includes logins and passwords to PGD systems, has been published on the Dark Web, posing a real threat to people who use the company’s services. The attack affects customers of well-known car brands such as Dacia, Fiat, Jeep, Nissan, Renault and Opel, which are part of the group.

This incident represents a potential breach of many people’s personal data, including first names, surnames, residential addresses, phone numbers, email addresses and dates of birth. There is no certainty that this data has been copied or used by third parties, but its presence on the Dark Web raises serious concerns about the privacy and security of those affected.

In response to the leak, Holding 1 began sending notifications to people whose data may have been compromised. These individuals are encouraged to withhold their PESEL number and take other protective measures, including monitoring their accounts and responding to phishing attempts.

In addition to preventive measures, customers affected by the leak are encouraged to be especially vigilant, especially in the context of messages they receive that may come from fraudsters. When data is breached, a quick response and appropriate security measures can significantly reduce potential damage.

To protect yourself after a data breach, several important steps must be taken. The first step should be to reserve your PESEL number in banks and other financial institutions. This can be done online or over the phone, which helps prevent your information from being used to open fraudulent credit accounts. You should also regularly monitor your bank accounts and credit card transaction history to quickly spot unauthorized or suspicious activity.

In addition, it is recommended to change passwords for all online accounts, especially if you have used the same or similar passwords in different places, and enable authentication two-factor, which greatly increases security. It is also important that all devices have up-to-date antivirus software, which can effectively protect against malware and other threats that use stolen data.

Care in communication is another important aspect – it’s worth being vigilant about emails, text messages or phone calls that ask for personal or financial data. People who have been notified of the leak should be especially vigilant against fraudsters’ attempts to obtain additional information. If in doubt, it’s worth calling the bank’s hotline directly to ensure the security of your data.

English linguist and translator by profession. In the editorial office from the very beginning.