Guntrader, an online marketplace for guns, has advised its users that their personal details have been compromised in a recent data breach.
Alexander Andover, the managing director of guntrader.uk, has written to the site’s website users advising them of a security breach.
In an email, sent to Guntrader’s registered users, the leader of the online gun community said its user database had been stolen and published on the dark web.
What is Guntrader?
Guntrader, badged as the home of guns for sale, is a website that enables users to buy and sell new and used shotguns, rifles, air rifles, air pistols and shooting equipment. It also has its own electronic gun register software used by UK shooting businesses.
What happened in the Guntrader data breach?
The data breach affected over 100,000 registered Guntrader users. The Guntrader data breach involved the theft of its database, which included users registered between 2016 and 2021. The database, which was subsequently published online, included names, mobile phone numbers, email addresses and user’s geolocation data.
What action is being taken following the Guntrader data breach?
Guntrader has advised that it is still investigating the data breach. At this stage, it doesn’t believe that credit card details or references to firearms owned have been breached but it will convey any further information as and when it becomes available. In the meantime, Guntrader is advising its users to change their passwords.
Similar recent data breach cases include the Hospital Metalcraft data breach and The Riverside Group data breach – both of which involved the unauthorised replication of personal information from a company server.
BASC warns Guntrader users to ‘be vigilant around home security’ following the recent data breach
In a statement published on its website, the British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC) said: “Our advice to members would be to check home security and be extra vigilant. Make sure all firearms are appropriately locked away and make sure buildings are kept secure.”
CEL Solicitors is acting for a number of people affected by the Guntrader data breach
Commenting on the Guntrader data breach, Mark Montaldo, a director and data breach specialist at CEL Solicitors, said: “We’ve already been contacted by Guntrader users who feel incredibly vulnerable following the recent data breach.
“In the UK, gun ownership is tightly controlled, making guns difficult to come by and incredibly valuable to criminals. I’ve already spoken to several Guntrader users who are naturally afraid for their safety making this a really serious breach.”
