Personal data of thousands compromised

DATA BREACH: Damac has launched in investigation into how the personal details of thousands of its customers ended up for sale on Ebay.

Damac Properties has launched an investigation into how thousands of its customers personal details ended up for sale on eBay for 750 pounds ($1,466), a senior company official told ArabianBusiness.com on Thursday.

Ten copies of a database with personal information on over 8,000 of the Dubai-based developer's customers were put on the website on May 28.

According to the posting, the database includes information such as email addresses and phone numbers of “investors, VIPs, agents and high net worth individuals based in Dubai and across the world”.

“This database is highly sought after by every financial institution in the region and is worth millions,” the posting says.

The posting has since been removed following a flurry of complaints by investors.

Nile McLoughlin, senior vice president of corporate communications at Damac, said the company took customer confidentiality “very seriously” and a “comprehensive investigation” was taking place.

“We are aware of the auction taking place on eBay and we have had the item removed from the site,” McLoughlin said.

“A comprehensive investigation is taking place and the relevant action will be taken as an outcome of this investigation.”

The incident comes less than two months after the saga surrounded the high profile cancellation and subsequent reinstatement of Damac’s Palm Springs project on the Palm Jebel Ali.

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READERS' COMMENTS

because top management dont take security professional's advice seriously
Posted by Adnan Ansari, Dubai, UAE on Tuesday 24 June 2008 at 14:17 UAE time


Very nice article and it is high time for top level/executive management to reconsider the value of Information Security staff and their proposals, whenever we (Info Sec) provide with information security requirements, they just tend to prove us wrong or simply start jumping saying this is costly etc.. I believe data leakage protection software can range between 75k to 150 k USD but once properly implemented they can prevent subjected matters.
Also I would like to draw attention to inexperienced information security product vendors who shows that they have enough experience and start selling security products, Information security is professional business only software helps to secure information but the experience to implement the system is more important than that..

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