Apple arrests after 22 employees have sold customer data on millions of dollars

Chinese authorities have discovered a criminal group that trafficed with the personal data of iPhone users. The network has earned over $ 7 million in selling personal data to other iPhone users.

It took months of investigations until the Chinese authorities in Zhejiang province got the evidence and made the first arrests in one of the most extensive and most profitable cases of personal data traffic.

The network was made up of 22 employees of some suppliers or other Chinese companies working with Apple for various purposes. They, having access to the databases of the companies they worked for, collaborated to collect and group personal data of their clients.

The stolen personal data included names, email addresses, phone numbers, and other information including Apple IDs that can be used to crack the targeted accounts.

The personal data obtained was then sold with 80 yuan ($ 11.78) for a so-called date point - identity package in this case. Overall, the network has managed to earn $ 7.36 million.

What is unclear, and the Chinese authorities should state, is whether the targeted are only Chinese or are citizens of other states. Also, nothing is said about those who bought that personal data - whether there are regulations to punish them and what they did with their personal data.