“Putin’s mistress and the secret police” .. Leaks of the food delivery application “reveal a lot”
A massive data leak from Russian food delivery company Yandex Food has revealed the delivery addresses, phone numbers, names and delivery instructions of those linked to the Russian secret police, Bellingcat reported.
Yandex Food, a subsidiary of Russia's Yandex Group, first reported the data leak on March 1, blaming the "dishonest actions" of one of its employees, and noting that the leak did not include users' login information.
Since then, Roskomnadzor, the Russian communications regulator, has threatened to fine the company up to 100,000 rubles (about $1,200) for the leak.
Reuters says the leak "revealed a lot of information on about 58,000 users".
Roskomnadzor has blocked access to an "online map containing data", in an attempt to hide the information of ordinary citizens, as well as those with connections to the Russian military and security services.
Bellingcat researchers gained access to a "treasure of information" and sifted it for evidence of any people of interest, such as an individual linked to the poisoning of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny.
By searching a database of phone numbers collected, as part of an earlier investigation, Bellingcat revealed the name of a person who had been in contact with Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) planning to poison Navalny.
Bellingcat says this person also used his work email address to register with Yandex Food, allowing researchers to verify his identity.
The researchers also examined the leaked phone numbers of individuals associated with Russia's Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU), or military intelligence agency.
They found the name of one of these agents, named "Evgeny", and were able to obtain information about him.
The Verge noted that some of the delivery addresses are "interesting", and include military bases, districts and security posts.
The Russian opposition close to Navalny, Lyubov Sobol, said that the leak included information about the "ex-mistress" of Russian President Vladimir Putin, and their alleged "secret" daughter.
"Thanks to the leaked Yandex database, another apartment of Putin's ex-girlfriend was found," Sobol added. "This is where their daughter ordered her meals. The apartment has an area of 400 square meters, and is worth about 170 million rubles (about $ 2 million). ".
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