Technology
Auto parts giant exposed: 2.3 million customers at risk in massive data breach

Advance Auto Parts, an auto parts retailer with stores throughout the U.S., has been affected by a data breach impacting over 2.3 million people.
The incident is reported to be related to other breaches, such as the recent one at Ticketmaster.
Advance Auto Parts has confirmed that cyberattackers managed to access information, including Social Security numbers, driver’s licenses and other government ID numbers.
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Advance Auto Parts store (Advance Auto Parts)
Breach confirmation and scope
On June 19, Advance Auto Parts confirmed that it had been impacted by a data breach, but it only puts current and former employees and job applicants at risk. Advance has now completed its internal investigation into the incident and has determined that it has impacted 2,316,591 people.
Timeline and details of the breach
“Our investigation determined that an unauthorized third party accessed or copied certain information maintained by Advance Auto Parts from April 14, 2024, to May 24, 2024,” states the notice sent by Advance Auto Parts to affected individuals. “We conducted a detailed review and analysis of the affected information to determine the types of information contained therein and to whom the information relates.”
Exposed information
The company has confirmed that the breach has exposed data, such as full names, Social Security numbers, driver’s licenses and government ID numbers, to hackers. This data is collected as part of Advance’s hiring process, so it seems only employee and applicant data has been leaked.
HOW TO REMOVE YOUR PRIVATE DATA FROM THE INTERNET
Potential hacker involvement
While Advance didn’t name the hacker responsible for the attack, a threat actor known as “Sp1d3r” began selling a massive 3TB database on June 5, 2024. This database allegedly contains 380 million Advance customer records, including orders, transaction details and other sensitive information. Although the number claimed by Sp1d3r is significantly lower than the 2.3 million figure reported by Advance, it’s possible that Sp1d3r was behind the attack.
Part of a larger attack
Hackers gained access to Advance Auto Parts’ data stored on Snowflake, a cloud storage service, for over a month starting in mid-April 2024. This incident reportedly was part of a larger attack targeting Snowflake accounts with stolen credentials. Other companies impacted by this campaign include Pure Storage, Ticketmaster and more.
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Exterior of Advance Auto Parts store (Advance Auto Parts)
HERE’S WHAT RUTHLESS HACKERS STOLE FROM 110 MILLION AT&T CUSTOMERS
What is Advance Auto Parts doing about the breach?
Advance Auto Parts says it promptly terminated the unauthorized access and took proactive measures to prevent future unauthorized access. The company also notified law enforcement and is collaborating with third-party cybersecurity experts to further harden its systems.
The impacted individuals have also been offered free credit monitoring and identity theft protection for 12 months. They can enroll by Oct. 1, 2024.
We contacted Advance Auto Parts for a comment on this story but did not hear back before our deadline.

A car motor (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
WORLD’S LARGEST STOLEN PASSWORD DATABASE UPLOADED TO CRIMINAL FORUM
7 proactive steps to take in the face of the Advance Auto Parts data breach
If you think you have been affected by the Advance Auto Parts data breach, follow these steps to protect yourself and your personal data.
1. Stay informed: Keep up to date with the latest news from Advance Auto Parts data breach and other reliable sources to know the status of the systems and services.
2. Monitor your accounts and transactions: You should check your online accounts and transactions regularly for any suspicious or unauthorized activity. If you notice anything unusual, report it to the service provider or the authorities as soon as possible. You should also review your credit reports and scores to see if there are any signs of identity theft or fraud.
3. Use identity theft protection: Identity theft protection companies can monitor personal information, like your home title, Social Security Number, phone number and email address, and alert you if it is being used to open an account. They can also assist you in freezing your bank and credit card accounts to prevent further unauthorized use by criminals. See my tips and best picks on how to protect yourself from identity theft.
4. Change your passwords: Although Advance Auto Parts says your personal details like phone number and email address haven’t been leaked, it’s still advisable to change your passwords. Consider using a password manager to generate and store complex passwords.
5. Vigilance against phishing: Be extra cautious of phishing attempts as cyberattacks often lead to an increase in phishing emails and calls trying to exploit the situation. The best way to protect yourself from clicking malicious links that install malware that may get access to your private information is to have strong antivirus protection installed on all your devices. This can also alert you of any phishing emails or ransomware scams. Get my picks for the best 2024 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices.
6. Be wary of mailbox communications: Bad actors may also try to scam you through snail mail. The data leak gives them access to your address. They may impersonate people or brands you know and use themes that require urgent attention, such as missed deliveries, account suspensions and security alerts.
7. Invest in personal data removal services: While no service promises to remove all your data from the internet, having a removal service is great if you want to constantly monitor and automate the process of removing your information from hundreds of sites continuously over a longer period of time. Check out my top picks for data removal services here.
PHARMA GIANT’S DATA BREACH EXPOSES PATIENTS’ SENSITIVE INFORMATION
Kurt’s key takeaway
Hackers are launching campaigns that target big corporations. Recently, we saw a cyberattack that paralyzed CDK Global, and now, again in the automobile industry, Advance Auto Parts has been targeted. These companies need to fortify their systems so that they don’t get affected by such attacks. Also, the government needs to come up with required laws that should ban the retention of customers’ personal details, unless necessary.
How important is a company’s cybersecurity track record to you when deciding where to shop? Let us know in the comments below. Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact.
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Copyright 2024 CyberGuy.com. All rights reserved.

Technology
Stranger Things 5’s first trailer promises an epic showdown

It’s been a long time coming, but we finally have a real look at the end of Stranger Things. Netflix just released the first teaser trailer for the show’s fifth season, which will also be its last when it starts streaming later this year. As was alluded to in the finale of season 4, the new trailer — which, despite being called a teaser, clocks in at nearly three minutes long — is focused on the major showdown with Vecna that will presumably end the string of supernatural bad luck in Hawkins, Indiana for good.
Here’s the official setup for the finale, according to Netflix:
The fall of 1987. Hawkins is scarred by the opening of the Rifts, and our heroes are united by a single goal: find and kill Vecna. But he has vanished — his whereabouts and plans unknown. Complicating their mission, the government has placed the town under military quarantine and intensified its hunt for Eleven, forcing her back into hiding. As the anniversary of Will’s disappearance approaches, so does a heavy, familiar dread. The final battle is looming — and with it, a darkness more powerful and more deadly than anything they’ve faced before. To end this nightmare, they’ll need everyone — the full party — standing together, one last time.
Technology
Landline identity theft leads to major bank fraud

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Landline identity theft is an emerging threat that gives scammers backdoor access to your accounts.
An outdated phone number, especially a forgotten landline, can help them bypass security and drain your savings.
Here’s how it happens and how to stop it.
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IS YOUR PHONE HACKED? HOW TO TELL AND WHAT TO DO
A man on a phone call using a landline telephone (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
How forgotten landline identity theft drained a bank account
Richard from Reno, Nevada, shared a troubling story. His friend lost money to scammers because their old landline number was still linked to a bank account.
It started with a credit alert asking whether the friend had opened a new card. They said no and thought the issue was resolved.
But soon after, they couldn’t access their bank or investment accounts. Despite having transaction alerts enabled, the money was already gone.
WHAT IS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI)?
The scammer didn’t hack a password. Instead, they used a security loophole, an outdated landline still listed on file.
“My friend had an old but active landline linked to their bank account,” Richard said. “The thief convinced the phone company to port the number to a mobile device. Then they used it to intercept security codes and drain the account.”
The scammer requested a password reset. The bank sent a verification code to the old number, now controlled by the scammer. That code let them change the login, lock the victim out, and move the funds.
Credit monitoring caught the new credit inquiry but failed to detect the fraud inside the existing accounts. By the time access was restored, the money had disappeared.

A man screaming into a phone receiver of a landline phone (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
Why landline identity theft is so easy to pull off
This scam highlights how identity thieves evolve. They don’t always need advanced tools. Sometimes, they just use the details you’ve forgotten.
The role of number porting
The attacker used number porting, a process meant to help people keep their number when switching carriers. It’s legitimate, until scammers exploit it.
In this case, the thief pretended to be the victim and asked the phone company to transfer the landline number to a mobile device. Once the number was active, they received calls and texts, including two-factor authentication (2FA) codes.
How old contact info creates new risks
Many people forget to update recovery settings after creating an account. But an outdated phone number or email can still receive security codes. If a scammer gains control of those recovery tools, your accounts are wide open.
The overlooked weaknesses that made this attack work
Even small gaps in your security settings can lead to big problems. These were the key vulnerabilities in this case:
Old phone numbers stay linked too long
Scammers can hijack even inactive numbers through porting. If those numbers still connect to your bank or email, they become an easy target.
Credit monitoring can miss real-time fraud
Tools that monitor new credit accounts won’t always detect unauthorized transactions in your existing bank or investment accounts.
Weak 2FA setups can be hijacked
2FA is helpful, but only when the linked phone number or email is secure. If a scammer controls that method, they can bypass your protections.

An older style landline telephone next to smartphone (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
How to prevent landline identity theft
You can’t stop scammers from trying, but you can make it much harder for them to succeed. Use these steps to reduce your risk.
1. Audit your account recovery options: Check your recovery settings on every important account. Delete old phone numbers or backup emails. Keep only active, secure options on file.
2. Use an authenticator app: Authenticator apps like Google Authenticator, Authy, or Microsoft Authenticator generate one-time login codes on your device. This is safer than relying on text messages, which scammers can intercept.
3. Freeze number porting with your carrier: Contact your phone provider and ask about port-out protection. This feature blocks scammers from transferring your number without extra identity verification like a PIN or in-person request.
4. Remove your info from data broker sites: Scammers gather personal details like old numbers from public broker listings. Use a data removal service to erase this info from the web. Check out my top picks for data removal services and get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web by visiting Cyberguy.com/Delete.
Get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web: Cyberguy.com/FreeScan.
5. Monitor your bank activity directly: Set up alerts through your bank for every transaction. Log in regularly, even if you haven’t received any warnings, to catch fraud faster.
6. Use a password manager: A strong, unique password protects each account. A tool like a password manager creates and stores complex passwords for you. It also tracks password health and alerts you to possible breaches. Get more details about my best expert-reviewed Password Managers of 2025 at Cyberguy.com/Passwords.
7. Consider full identity theft protection: Even with strong passwords and 2FA, your personal info can still be exposed. An identity theft protection service offers dark web monitoring, account alerts, and some offer up to $1 million in identity theft insurance. See my tips and best picks on how to protect yourself from identity theft at Cyberguy.com/IdentityTheft.
Kurt’s key takeaways
Landline identity theft shows that forgotten account settings can turn into serious threats. Take a few minutes to review your recovery options. Switch to authenticator apps. Set up port-out protection. And don’t rely on credit monitoring alone, it can’t catch everything. These simple steps can help you stay ahead of evolving scams and protect your most important accounts.
Have you experienced a similar scam or spotted a new tactic? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact.
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Get my best tech tips, urgent security alerts, and exclusive deals delivered straight to your inbox. Plus, you’ll get instant access to my Ultimate Scam Survival Guide – free when you join my CYBERGUY.COM/NEWSLETTER.
Copyright 2025 CyberGuy.com. All rights reserved.
Technology
Analogue’s 4K N64 has been delayed again, but only by a month

The Analogue 3D has been hit with another delay, but should still be launching this summer. In an update on its preorder website, Analogue explained that it’s modern take on the Nintendo 64 “is now shipping in late August 2025,” after previously aiming for July. The company said in a separate statement that the decision was made due to the ever-changing situation around US tariffs.
“Following last week’s sudden tariff changes, Analogue 3D will now begin shipping next month,” the company explained in a post on X. “We’re absorbing the costs — your preorder price stays the same. No additional charges. Late August, the wait ends: reviews go live with everything we’ve been saving for this moment.”
Like its previous hardware, the $249.99 Analogue 3D is a modern console designed to play old games, in this case N64 cartridges. The new console can upscale classic games to 4K and includes multiple display modes to mimic the look and feel of a CRT display, and the company says that it supports 100 percent of N64 cartridges. It was originally planned for a launch in 2024, but has been hit with multiple delays since it was initially announced.
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