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If I were the real hacker, I would prove it by leaking information that wasn't already public. If I were someone pretending to be the real hacker, I would show
by thedevil 9y ago
If I were the real hacker, I would prove it by leaking information that wasn't already public.
If I were someone pretending to be the real hacker, I would show a screenshot of SSNs that I could find with Google (e.g. Kim Kardashian, Donald Trump, and Bill Gates).
- wyldfire 9y agoI think you're right. But if they had leaked information that wasn't public, we wouldn't have a way to verify it, right?
- thedevil 9y agoMaybe. If I were the real hacker wanting to prove it, I'd maybe leak a few celebrities without previously leaked SSNs. I think at least one of them would unintentionally verify it for the public by getting upset and ranting on Twitter. If that didn't work, I'd try something else. Disclaimer: I'm no expert on security. I just like applying my things-I-might-do technique.
- ribosometronome 9y agoWell, I suppose you could always try applying for a credit card with the leaked info and seeing if you get approved!
- chias 9y agoDoesn't necessarily work. In my late teens I got confused about what my SSN actually was, and entered it wrong when opening a bank account / credit card. Worked fine. I realized my mistake a few years later and went through quite the endeavor to fix it.
- bluetwo 9y agoIf I were trying to prove I had the data, I would pick a very rich but private street, say in Bevery Hills or Jackson Hole, and release all data from all people who lived there. Chaos.
- dx034 9y agoDon't think it's an issue for them, they can hire a lawyer to ensure that no fraudulent account is opened or stays open.
- bluetwo 9y agoYou miss the point. It's not about protecting yourself from credit fraud. It's about every one of your snooty neighbors knowing your financial situation. And you knowing theirs.