The recent arrest of Russian basketball player Daniil Kasatkin has turned the spotlight onto an unexpected side of cybercrime. Accused of being a negotiator for a ransomware gang, his case raises significant questions about the safety of personal data. With over 900 companies reportedly attacked by the gang he is linked to, individuals worldwide are left wondering about the security of their own information. Understanding the potential risks and knowing how to respond is crucial in this digital age.
What Datapoints Were Leaked?
Ransomware attacks almost always have one thing in common: sensitive data ends up in the wrong hands. In the case tied to Daniil Kasatkin, the group reportedly struck over 900 companies. That’s a staggering reach, and the fallout isn’t limited to faceless corporations. It’s personal.
Types of Data Compromised
The ransomware group linked to Kasatkin is known for grabbing a wide range of data. Here’s what’s often at risk:
Personal Identification: Full names, addresses, birthdates, phone numbers, and government-issued IDs.
Financial Records: Bank account details, credit card numbers, payroll information, and tax records.
Business Files: Client lists, contracts, intellectual property, internal emails, and strategic plans.
Health Data: In some breaches, even medical records or insurance details get swept up.
When attackers get their hands on these details, the damage ripples outward. Identity theft becomes easier. Financial fraud spikes. Even something as basic as your work email could be used to trick your contacts.
Why It Matters
Stolen data doesn’t just stay locked away. It’s often leaked, sold, or used in new scams. For companies, this can mean regulatory penalties, lawsuits, and shattered trust. For individuals, the consequences are more personal—think drained accounts or the headache of cleaning up after identity theft.
A Broader Pattern
This incident highlights a trend: ransomware gangs are more aggressive and organized than ever. They don’t just lock up files; they steal, threaten, and extort. And with so many attacks, it’s safe to say that anyone’s information could be caught in the crossfire.
Staying aware of what’s at risk is the first step. Next, we’ll look at whether you should be worried—and how to spot the warning signs.
Should You Be Worried?
Data breaches aren't just headlines—they have real consequences for everyday people. When a cybercriminal group or individual, like the recently arrested Daniil Kasatkin, gets their hands on sensitive data, it can turn lives upside down. Here’s what you need to know, and why it matters to you.
What Happens If Your Data Is Exposed?
Stolen personal information can be used for:
Identity Theft: Criminals open accounts, take loans, or even commit crimes under your name.
Financial Fraud: Unauthorized purchases, draining bank accounts, or credit card fraud.
Phishing Attacks: You might get emails or calls that look legit but are designed to steal more information.
Reputation Damage: Embarrassing or private details can be leaked or sold, affecting both personal and professional life.
How Can You Tell If Your Information Is at Risk?
Be alert for these red flags:
Unexpected Emails or Calls: You get alerts about logins, password resets, or account activity you didn’t do.
Strange Charges: Your bank or credit card statement shows purchases you didn’t make.
Denied Applications: Loan or credit card applications are rejected due to unknown debts or bad credit.
Accounts Locked or Changed: You’re locked out of social media, email, or other accounts, or notice settings have changed.
Real-World Consequences: A Scenario
Let’s say your email and password were exposed in a breach. Suddenly, you notice money missing from your bank. Then, someone starts sending odd messages from your social media. That’s not just annoying—it’s a privacy nightmare, and it can take months to fix.
The Human Cost
Victims of cybercrime often feel anxious, frustrated, and powerless. Sorting out identity theft can mean hours on the phone, canceled cards, and a long road to recovery. It’s not just about lost money—your sense of safety and trust takes a hit.
Keeping Yourself Safe
Taking action is essential. Services like Cloaked can help by creating unique emails, phone numbers, and passwords for every service you use. This means even if one account is compromised, the rest stay protected.
Don’t ignore the warning signs. Stay vigilant, take steps to protect your identity, and remember—anyone can be a target.
What Should Be Your Next Steps?
Ransomware attacks don’t just make the news—they hit close to home, affecting real people and their sensitive data. The fallout can be overwhelming, but the right steps can make a big difference in protecting what matters most.
Immediate Actions to Protect Your Data
Back Up Regularly: Keep copies of important files on an external drive or secure cloud service. If ransomware strikes, you’ll have safe versions to fall back on.
Update Everything: Outdated software is an open door. Run system and software updates as soon as they’re available. These often patch security gaps that attackers exploit.
Use Strong, Unique Passwords: Reusing passwords makes you an easy target. Opt for complex passwords and change them if there’s even a hint of a breach.
Turn On Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): It adds another layer of security, so even if someone gets your password, they can’t just walk in.
Recognizing and Avoiding Phishing Attempts
Phishing remains the entry point for most ransomware. Watch for:
Suspicious Emails: Unexpected attachments, urgent requests, or odd links? Don’t click. If you weren’t expecting it, verify with the sender directly.
Fake Websites: Double-check URLs before entering credentials. Attackers set up lookalike sites to steal your info.
Unusual Messages: If something feels off—grammar errors, odd sender addresses—it probably is.
Securing Your Online Accounts
Audit Your Accounts: Remove unused accounts and update security settings on the rest.
Monitor Account Activity: Look for logins you don’t recognize. Many services notify you of suspicious activity—don’t ignore these alerts.
Cloaked’s features are designed for people who take privacy seriously. If you’re tired of worrying about data leaks or phishing attempts, Cloaked lets you:
Create masked emails and phone numbers: Share these instead of your real contact details, cutting off a key path for attackers.
Control what you share: Choose exactly what information goes out—nothing more, nothing less.
Instantly turn off compromised info: If a masked email or phone number gets exposed, disable it with a click. Attackers hit a dead end.
Taking these steps might feel like extra work, but it’s far easier than dealing with the mess a ransomware attack leaves behind. Protecting your data isn’t a one-time task—it’s an ongoing habit.
Cloaked FAQs Accordion
Frequently Asked Questions
First, change your passwords—especially if you've reused them across sites. Then enable two-factor authentication (2FA) on all key accounts. Review your account and credit activity regularly for any unusual behavior. If suspicious actions surface, consider freezing your credit and alerting your bank. To proactively reduce exposure in the future, tools like Cloaked can mask your personal information before breaches happen.
Cloaked provides you with disposable emails, phone numbers, and payment details, making it harder for bad actors to access your real identity. These tools help you safely sign up for services, communicate, and shop online without putting your core identity at risk.
Commonly targeted data includes full names, email addresses, phone numbers, birthdates, physical addresses, login credentials, and payment info. Tools like Cloaked help shield this information by providing secure, masked alternatives.
Always be skeptical. Malicious links are one of the most common ways hackers infect devices or steal data. Avoid clicking unless you can verify the source. Services like Cloaked can add layers of security so your real contact info isn’t exposed even if you make a mistake.
Using the same contact info across platforms makes it easy for attackers to build a full profile of you. If one platform gets breached, all your accounts can be at risk. That’s why Cloaked allows you to use different, secure contact methods for each service.
At Cloaked, we believe the best way to protect your personal information is to keep it private before it ever gets out. That’s why we help you remove your data from people-search sites that expose your home address, phone number, SSN, and other personal details. And to keep your info private going forward, Cloaked lets you create unique, secure emails and phone numbers with one click - so you sign up for new experiences without giving away your real info. With Cloaked, your privacy isn’t a setting - it’s the default. Take back control of your personal data with thousands of Cloaked users.
*Disclaimer: You agree not to use any aspect of the Cloaked Services for FCRA purposes.
