Russian hackers steal (and sell) data from information clearinghouses

Botnets are “in” today in the hacking world and one Russian cybergang has perpetrated some dastardly deeds to grab data for bulk sales.

A Russian hacker gang running an identity theft service used a botnet made up of computers inside “some of America’s largest consumer and business data aggregators,” according to security researcher Brian Krebs.

Krebs has published the first in what he promises will be a series of articles about the SSNDOB identity theft service, which he claims can be used to look up “Social Security numbers, birthdays, and other personal data on any U.S. resident.” The cost for such data: anywhere from 50 cents to $15, depending on what you’re asking for.