A major data breach has exposed sensitive information from thousands of individuals connected to Income Property Investments, a California real estate firm. Cybersecurity experts discovered an unsecured database containing over 170,000 records, including Social Security numbers, employment documents, and personal addresses.
The leaked data, totaling 116 GB, also revealed internal company files such as eviction notices, employee termination letters, and financial records. Researcher Jeremiah Fowler noted that some documents even displayed partial payment card details and medical information, raising serious privacy concerns.
Fowler found spreadsheets with unencrypted personal data of motel employees, highlighting the severity of the security lapse. The database was reportedly secured shortly after the discovery, but the full extent of the exposure remains unclear.
While the exact ownership of the database is still unconfirmed, the incident underscores the risks of misconfigured systems. This breach serves as a stark reminder for businesses to prioritize cybersecurity measures to protect sensitive client and employee information.