DataBreaches.Net

Menu
  • About
  • Breach Notification Laws
  • Privacy Policy
  • Transparency Report
Menu

UK: Child database leak caused by error not hacking

Posted on August 29, 2012 by Dissent

When I posted a news item about a breach involving Gabbitas and The Independent Schools Guide web site, I duly quoted the reference to claims that the leak had been due to a cyber-attack, even though it seemed a bit implausible to me.

An article in Computerworld today by John E. Dunn that reports there was no attack, and this was just error:

Last week’s leak of a database of schoolchildren by educational firm Gabbitas was caused by a straightforward technical error and not an external attack as apparently claimed at the time, the source of a story run by The Sunday Telegraph has told Computerworld UK.

According to the source – who wishes to remain anonymous – he stumbled on an exposed database containing the records of 1,367 children on 17 August while using Google to locate the email address of an acquaintance.

In the event, the search turned up the desired contact inside a CSV (comma separated value) file dump from an SQL database. Uploaded sometime between 15 March and 16 June 2012, this appeared to have been accidentally left exposed on the emetis.com independent schools guide website run by Gabbitas (currently down) during a revamp.

Read more on Computerworld.

Category: Breach IncidentsBusiness SectorExposureNon-U.S.

Post navigation

← Coral Springs Police: Identity Theft Ring Busted
Assange supporters claim to hack Cambridge University →

Now more than ever

"Stand with Ukraine:" above raised hands. The illustration is in blue and yellow, the colors of Ukraine's flag.

Search

Browse by Categories

Recent Posts

  • Dublin ETB fined €125,000 for data protection breaches
  • From $5,000 to $800,000: Days Apart, OCR Security Settlements Show Puzzling Math
  • Liberty Township in Ohio has recovered its network after a ransomware attack
  • Marquette County Medical Care Facility discloses data breach
  • Industry Letter – June 23, 2025: Impact to Financial Sector of Ongoing Global Conflicts
  • MNGI Digestive Health settles class action lawsuit stemming from BlackCat attack
  • Four REvil ransomware members released after time served on carding charges
  • Why Dumping Sensitive Data on Network Shares is a Liability
  • A militarily degraded Iran may turn to asymmetrical warfare – raising risk of proxy and cyber attacks
  • Pro-Russian hackers disrupt Dutch government websites ahead of NATO summit

No, You Can’t Buy a Post or an Interview

This site does not accept sponsored posts or link-back arrangements. Inquiries about either are ignored.

And despite what some trolls may try to claim: DataBreaches has never accepted even one dime to interview or report on anyone. Nor will DataBreaches ever pay anyone for data or to interview them.

Want to Get Our RSS Feed?

Grab it here:

https://databreaches.net/feed/

RSS Recent Posts on PogoWasRight.org

  • How Internet of Things devices affect your privacy – even when they’re not yours
  • Sky Views Personal Data as a Potential Weapon in IPTV Piracy War
  • Florida Used a Nationwide Surveillance Camera Network 250 Times To Aid in Immigration Arrests
  • Federal Court Strikes Down HIPAA Reproductive Health Care Privacy Rule
  • The Markup caught 4 more states sharing personal health data with Big Tech
  • Privacy in the Big Sky State: Montana’s Consumer Privacy Law Gets Amended
  • UK Passes Data Use and Access Regulation Bill

Have a News Tip?

Email: Tips[at]DataBreaches.net

Signal: +1 516-776-7756

Contact Me

Email: info[at]databreaches.net

Mastodon: Infosec.Exchange/@PogoWasRight

Signal: +1 516-776-7756

DMCA Concern: dmca[at]databreaches.net
© 2009 – 2025 DataBreaches.net and DataBreaches LLC. All rights reserved.