Data Broker Breaches Fueled Nearly $21 Billion in Identity-Theft Losses

A batch of WIRED security pieces highlights widespread privacy and safety risks: data-broker breaches and a mega-exposed database of Social Security numbers have driven tens of billions in identity-theft losses, while hidden opt-out pages and exposed metadata show systemic failures to protect personal data. Government and corporate surveillance risks are growing too—DHS plans to consolidate biometric searches, CBP is using Clearview AI, and metadata leaks reveal internal ICE authorship—raising civil‑liberties and operational security concerns. Consumer- and enterprise‑level attack surfaces are