German automaker Volkswagen isn’t having a great time. The company is planning to cut capacity at five factories, reducing production by about 700,000 vehicles, while also laying off more than 35,000 workers in its home country. Now, reports suggest the company had a massive data leak at its subsidiary software company Cariad, which exposed personal data, including geolocation data, of around 800,000 EV owners online and accessible for months. Such information could be valuable to criminals for extortion purposes. What’s interesting is that a hacker association informed the company about this data leak after receiving a tip from an anonymous hacker.
As reported by Germany’s Der Spiegel magazine, Volkswagen is facing a major data security issue after movement data from 800,000 electric cars and the personal contact information of their owners were left exposed on the internet. This data revealed sensitive details, such as the precise locations where cars were parked, including private locations like people’s homes, government buildings and even questionable spots like brothels.
The exposed data includes detailed movement patterns of these vehicles, allowing for the creation of comprehensive profiles of individuals’ daily activities. This could be particularly concerning for public figures or anyone with privacy concerns.
Several car brands under the Volkswagen group, including VW, Audi, Seat and Skoda, were affected by the breach, which exposed sensitive data across multiple countries. The information was stored on Amazon cloud servers without adequate protection, leaving it vulnerable for months before the issue was discovered.
For around 466,000 of the 800,000 affected vehicles, the location data was detailed enough to map out drivers’ daily routines. Spiegel reported that the list of affected users included German politicians, business leaders, the entire EV fleet used by Hamburg police and even suspected intelligence agents.
The breach came to light when an anonymous hacker tipped off the Chaos Computer Club. While Volkswagen left the data easily accessible during this time, there is no indication so far that anyone misused or accessed it maliciously.
We reached out to Volkswagen for comment but did not hear back by our deadline.
The Volkswagen data leak is more than just a tech issue. It is a real concern for anyone who values their privacy. With precise location data out in the open, someone could figure out where you live, work or spend your free time. This information could be misused in many ways, from targeted scams where hackers pretend to be Volkswagen or its partners to trick you into giving up sensitive information, to more personal threats like stalking or harassment.
Imagine someone knowing your daily routine or identifying places you visit that you would prefer to keep private. Visits to clinics, legal offices or other sensitive locations could expose you to embarrassment or blackmail.
The breach also raises concerns for business leaders, government officials and military personnel as their movements linked to high-security or restricted areas could be exposed, increasing the risk of corporate espionage or national security threats. Moreover, when paired with other vulnerabilities, such as app credentials, hackers could potentially exploit the data to unlock or even control vehicles remotely.
In light of the recent Volkswagen data breach, it is crucial to take proactive measures to safeguard your personal data. Here are 6 ways you can stay safe after this leak:
1) Check your app settings: Review the permissions and data-sharing settings in your car’s companion app. Disable features that track or share your location if they are not essential for your use. Regularly update the app to ensure you have the latest security patches.
2) Be alert to scams: Keep an eye out for suspicious emails, messages or calls pretending to be from Volkswagen or related services. Avoid clicking on links or sharing sensitive information without verifying the sender.
3) Consider data opt-out options: Many vehicles with online features allow you to limit or disable certain data-sharing functionalities. Check your car’s settings to reduce the amount of personal data being collected.
4) Strengthen your online accounts: If you use the same email or password across multiple accounts, update them immediately. Enable two-factor authentication wherever possible to add an extra layer of security to your accounts.
5) Beware of snail mail scams: While most people focus on digital threats, physical mail scams can also follow a data breach like this. If your contact information was exposed, you might receive fraudulent letters pretending to be from Volkswagen or related services. These could ask for payments, personal details or even encourage you to visit fake websites.
6) Install strong antivirus software: Ensure that you have strong antivirus software installed on all your devices, especially those connected to your vehicle or its apps. This can help protect you from malicious links that install malware, potentially accessing your private information. This protection can also alert you to phishing emails and ransomware scams, keeping your personal information and digital assets safe. Get my picks for the best 2025 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices.
The Volkswagen data leak is a glaring example of how companies need to take user data security more seriously. Exposing personal details and precise locations is not just a technical mistake. It is a massive breach of trust. While VW has patched the issue, the damage shows how important it is for businesses to be more responsible with the data they collect. People deserve to know their information is safe and used only when necessary. If companies cannot protect their customers’ privacy, they risk losing their confidence altogether. It is time for the industry to step up and do better.
Do you think stricter regulations should be in place for companies that handle user data? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact.
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Ben Affleck’s home in the luxurious Los Angeles suburb of Brentwood was visited by the FBI on Sunday, Fox News Digital can confirm.
Photographs taken outside the rental residence show agents outside the actor’s property. FBI spokesperson Laura Eimiller confirmed that agents were stationed in the area.
“Members of the FBI’s Ground Intercept task force are conducting activity in the area of the Palisades fire. Agents and our local partners may be visible throughout the area, including at residences, for this reason,” Eimiller explained.
It’s unclear if Affleck was home when the agents arrived. They reportedly left after some time on the premises. A representative for Affleck did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
Days ago, Affleck was photographed embracing his eldest child, daughter Violet, 19, outside the rental. The home is where he and ex-wife Jennifer Lopez reportedly lived before she filed for divorce in August. Pictures taken this summer showed a moving truck leaving the Los Angeles pad.
A month before they made their split official, the couple listed their Beverly Hills mansion for $68 million. The house remains on the market. Affleck and Lopez finalized their divorce earlier this month.
It was reported in July that Affleck purchased a new home in the Pacific Palisades for upwards of $20 million. Unlike the homes of many fellow celebrities, Affleck’s reportedly withstood the Palisades Fire.
Jennifer Garner, Affleck’s ex and mother of his three children, got emotional in an interview with MSNBC over the weekend while on the ground in the Pacific Palisades following the fire.
“I’ve lived in and around the Palisades for 25 years,” Garner said on camera, sharing the importance of helping out her community. “My heart bleeds for my friends… And there are 5,000 homes lost,” she said. “I could just write out a list of 100 friends who lost their homes.”
“I feel almost guilty walking through my house… What can I do? How can I help? What can I offer? What do I have to offer with these hands and these walls and the safety that I have?”
According to the CaliforniaDepartment of Forestry and Fire Protection, there are three active fires burning in Los Angeles: the Palisades Fire (14% contained), the Eaton Fire (33% contained) and Hurst Fire (89% contained.) Over 12,300 structures have been destroyed.
When the snow starts to fly, it’s time to bundle up and head outside for your favorite winter sports. Whether you’re skiing down powdery slopes, skating across an icy pond or trekking through the serene wilderness, the right gear is essential to stay warm and safe.
Hikers, skiers, snowboarders, snowshoers and skaters need the right equipment and winter apparel to perform. No matter your sport of choice, this list has the outdoor gear tailored to your winter pursuits.
Skiing and snowboarding
Snowshoeing
Ice hockey
Winter hiking
A good pair of ski boots connect to your skis and keep your feet safe and warm while you’re out on the slopes. Sun & Ski Sports has a pair of K2 men’s ski boots that are rugged but comfortable. You can find a pair of women’s ski boots on Amazon that are just as durable with a comfortable lining that makes it easy to wear them for hours.
Keep the snow and sun out of your eyes while skiing by investing in a pair of ski goggles. Amazon has affordable ski goggles in different color combos. The goggles won’t fog up and they offer UV protection. Sun & Ski has professional-grade ski goggles designed with a new frame design that allows for unparalleled peripheral vision.
Winter skiing is an exciting but chilly activity that requires a lined ski jacket in order for you to stay comfortable. Get a lined men’s ski jacket from Amazon that’s water-resistant and lined with cozy fleece so you’ll never get cold. Eddie Bauer currently has ski jackets on sale that are also waterproof and have a removable liner.
There are snowboards for all different levels of snowboarding, whether you’re a beginner or a senior boarder. Amazon has a beginner-friendly board, the K2 snowboard. It’s designed for all mountain types and is lightweight for novice users.
The House, a popular sporting brand, has a bright-colored women’s snowboard that comes with the bindings. Burton’s snowboards are for more advanced snowboarders looking for an upgrade to their beginner board. The Burton Process Flying V snowboard is an ideal all-terrain board used by pro-boarder, Mark McMorris.
Aside from skis and snowboards, the most vital piece of equipment you need to stay safe is a helmet. There are specially designed helmets for skiers and snowboarders that are designed to protect your head and neck when you inevitably fall while heading down the mountain.
Beginners looking for a no-frills helmet can find what they’re looking for on Amazon with the OutdoorMaster helmet. It’s affordable, comfortable and comes in a large variety of colors. Sun & Ski Sports also has a helmet designed for women skiers and snowboarders. It’s well-padded and has a fleece lining so you can stay warm.
When you’re snowshoeing, you need a good pair of boots to keep your feet warm. Merrell makes extremely durable boots that can withstand snow, ice and rain. A pair of Merrell’s men’s Moab 3 Thermo Extreme Waterproof boots are tall boots that are intensely insulated so you can wear them even in the coldest weather and still have toasty feet.
Snowshoes make winter hiking easier, ensuring you don’t constantly sink into the snow. L.L. Bean has a snowshoe and trekking poles combo that comes with a tough carrying bag, so you can easily travel anywhere with your snowshoes.
G2 snowshoes from Amazon also come with a pair of trekking poles and a carrying case. They’re easy to slip on, lightweight and made from durable, long-lasting materials.
Original price: $49.99
Gaiters slide over your boots and the bottom of your pants to keep your feet and legs from getting wet while trekking through the snow. Pike Trail gaiters from Amazon snap on and come in a variety of different colors and camouflage patterns. L.L. Bean has durable gaiters as well. They’re smaller than the average gaiters, so they’re ideal for women or those with smaller feet.
Skaters trying out ice hockey for the first time, or anyone who wants a good deal on skates will appreciate 5th Element skates from Amazon. They’re affordable, well padded and have stainless steel blades designed to last. For a more competitive ice skate, Hockey Monkey ice skates are ergonomically designed for maximum comfort.
You need to wear protective gear when playing ice hockey. The whole point of the sport is to defend the puck, which means you’re getting thrown around a lot. Hockey Monkey has a bundle of protective equipment, including shoulder pads, shin guards and elbow pads. You can piece together your own equipment as well through Pure Hockey.
A helmet in hockey is also a necessity to stay safe. You can find options with and without metal masks, depending on the level at which you’re playing. Hockey Monkey has the CCM Tacks 720 helmet without a face mask. It’s still designed for safety with multi-density foam lining the inside. Scheels sells the Bauer RE-AKT 55 with a built-in face mask, ideal for pros and frequent players.
When you’re hiking in the winter, you need boots that can withstand the wet, icy conditions on the trails. Amazon has Columbia hiking boots that are waterproof and comfortable enough for less snowy days. There are also lightweight Merrell hiking boots made from waterproof suede leather with added insulation for winter wear.
Down jackets are extremely lightweight, but often have insulation that make them the ideal top layer when spending time outside in the winter. The North Face puffer down jacket on Amazon is water-resistant and promises to keep you warm even when out in rainy or snowy conditions.
Columbia’s Arctic Crest down jacket is also designed to keep you warm. The Omni-Heat Arctic captures heat from the sun to keep you warm. The Omni-Shield also repels moisture, so you stay dry.
Original price: $34.99
No matter where you’re walking this winter, a pair of ice cleats can help you from slipping on icy snow or black ice. They just snap over your boots and add cleats to the bottom that can easily dig into the ice. You can get a pair from Amazon or Walmart.
While you’re walking, keep your hands toasty with a proper pair of gloves. Get a pair of stretchy thermal gloves with a touchscreen finger so you can still easily use your hands. For extra-warm gloves, these Heat Holders Men’s Worxx Performance gloves are perfect. They’re highly visible and have touchscreen fingertips.
In response to concerns that environmental protection efforts might delay reconstruction in the coastal area, environmental laws that could have posed obstacles to rebuilding structures destroyed by the Southern California wildfires will be temporarily suspended.
Houses along the scenic Pacific Coast Highway in California burned down in a monstrous fire that destroyed more than 10,000 homes and structures beginning on Jan. 7.
“We’re afraid they won’t let us rebuild,” said Teddy Leonard, owner of Reel Inn, a seafood restaurant serving on the Malibu coast since the 1980s that burned down in January. “It’s very scary.”
California law currently requires that people looking to build undergo a lengthy environmental review process before receiving approval, but state officials say the process will not apply to victims of the recent fire seeking to rebuild their lost structures.
The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requires that a review be conducted to weigh any potential environmental effects before a building permit is approved. Another state law, the California Coastal Act, focuses on development as it relates to “the preservation of sensitive coastal and marine habitat and biodiversity.”
Both laws were halted on Sunday for those who tragically lost their homes after Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom signed an executive order to suspend the environmental review process.
“When the fires are extinguished, victims who have lost their homes and businesses must be able to rebuild quickly and without roadblocks,” Newsom said in a statement.
“The executive order I signed today will help cut permitting delays, an important first step in allowing our communities to recover faster and stronger. I’ve also ordered our state agencies to identify additional ways to streamline the rebuilding and recovery process,” he added.
CEQA has received pushback over the years from critics, including environmentalists, who say it is restrictive and expensive.
“I don’t think that anybody really thinks that CEQA works exactly how it’s supposed to,” Eric Buescher, an attorney with San Francisco Baykeeper, an environmental nonprofit working to “hold polluters accountable,” said in 2022 about the state law, according to local outlet Bay Nature.
“Developers say it is way too restrictive. Cities say it’s expensive and impossible to comply with,” Buescher said. “Environmental groups say you can’t even get a project that is going to be built for sea level rise reviewed in time for sea level rise.”
Many of the Malibu homes that were destroyed by the fires were located on the beach along the Pacific Coast Highway, and their reconstruction could be subject to local land regulations designed to preserve the natural coastline.
President Biden announced on Thursday the federal government would cover all costs of debris removal and California’s fire management for 180 days.
FIRST ON FOX: President-elect Donald Trump’s House GOP allies are clearing the runway for him to make good on his vow to acquire Greenland.
Rep. Andy Ogles, R-Tenn., is leading a bill to authorize Trump to enter negotiations with Denmark over purchasing Greenland, a territory located in North America but with longstanding cultural and geopolitical ties to Europe.
The bill is titled the “Make Greenland Great Again Act,” according to a copy of its text obtained by Fox News Digital.
“Joe Biden took a blowtorch to our reputation these past four years, and before even taking office, President Trump is telling the world that America First is back. American economic and security interests will no longer take a backseat, and House Republicans are ready to help President Trump deliver for the American people,” Ogles told Fox News Digital.
It would allow the sitting president to enter into talks with Denmark just after noon on Jan. 20, when Trump is due to be sworn in.
“Not later than 5 calendar days after reaching an agreement with the Kingdom of Denmark relating to the acquisition of Greenland by the United States, the President shall transmit to the appropriate congressional committees the agreement, including all related materials and annexes,” the legislation said.
The Constitution gives Congress the power of the purse, meaning the executive branch cannot make any purchases for the federal government without getting the funds first appropriated by the House of Representatives and approved in the Senate.
Ogles’ bill is backed by 10 fellow House Republicans, including Reps. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., Diana Harshbarger, R-Tenn., Michael Rulli, R-Ohio, Dan Crenshaw, R-Texas, Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., Claudia Tenney, R-N.Y., Neal Dunn, R-Fla., Barry Moore, R-Ala., Randy Weber, R-Texas, and the new incoming House Science Committee Chairman, Brian Babin, R-Texas.
While he first floated the idea during his first term in the White House, recent weeks have seen Trump ramping up public comments about acquiring Greenland, as well as other entities like the Panama Canal.
Trump suggested last week that he would not rule out taking both by force. He told a reporter who asked if he would rule out using economic or military coercion, “No, I can’t assure you on either of those two.”
Meanwhile, the idea of buying Greenland has gained traction with Trump’s Republican allies, with supporters of the idea noting its strategic location near Russia – one of the U.S.’s top adversaries.
Ogles argued it was “essential to our national security.”
The president-elect’s son, Donald Trump Jr., was in Greenland last week for what was billed as a personal tourism visit.
Ogles’ introduction is the latest move by a House Republican to help Trump make good on his foreign policy goals.
Last week, Rep. Dusty Johnson, R-S.D., chairman of the pragmatist House GOP Main Street Caucus, introduced a bill to allow Trump to purchase the Panama Canal for a symbolic sum of $1.
That bill nabbed more than a dozen Republican co-sponsors.
