A newly published study by several independent researchers on personal data exposure in Thailand shows that more than 1.2 million Thai National Identification Card numbers are publicly available on the internet.
The research, Analysis of Personal Data Exposure in Thailand by Suphannee Sivakorn, Sasawat Malaivongs & Nuttaya Rujiratanapat, highlights an in-depth analysis of personal data exposure and how personal information is easily accessed through simple searches.
The shocking part of the research is that local Thai government agencies are responsible for almost 30% of the leaks. The research claims that 'the majority of the leaks are not the result of malicious breaches, but rather the publication of official administrative registries.'
The research expresses concern about publicly available content from local administrative registries, arguing that it provides malicious actors with the resources needed for social engineering.
The study finds that these leaks may not have been intentional, but in order to maintain public transparency, they may lack technical safeguards and endanger civilians to scams and hacks.
Ultimately, this study outlines how personal information can be exposed in today's world and on the internet. The lack of safeguards on administrative websites may expose regular civilians to cybercrime.