Another Day, Another Data Leak
Another massive data breach has hit the headlines—this time, 14.3 million shipping records from companies like eBay, Shopify, and Amazon were exposed due to an unprotected AWS bucket managed by a shipping service called Hipshipper.
According to KATV, cybersecurity expert Thomas Holt of Michigan State University confirmed that the leak was caused by misconfigured cloud storage.
Even worse? It took Hipshipper nearly a month to secure the bucket after being notified.
Let’s break down what happened, why it matters, and how businesses can avoid becoming the next cautionary tale.
What Was Leaked?
The exposed data included:
✅ Shipping labels (with names, addresses, phone numbers)
✅ Order details (product info, purchase history)
✅ Potentially sensitive customer information
This is a goldmine for cybercriminals.
What Can Hackers Do With This Data?
As Fox News reports, scammers can use this info for:
🔹 Phishing Attacks – “Hi [Your Name], your Amazon order #12345 has a delivery issue. Click here to resolve it!”
🔹 Identity Theft – With names, addresses, and order history, criminals can impersonate victims.
🔹 Package Theft & Fraud – Hackers can reroute deliveries or file fake “lost package” claims.
🔹 Spear-Phishing Businesses – Fake invoices, supplier fraud, and B2B scams.
Bottom line: This isn’t just a privacy issue—it’s a financial and reputational disaster for both customers and the businesses who are hacked.
How Could This Have Been Prevented?
According to MSSP Alert, companies should:
🔒 Implement robust AWS access controls (no more open buckets!)
🔒 Use AWS Key Management Service (KMS) & SSL/TLS encryption
🔒 Enable logging to track unauthorized access
🔒 Conduct regular security audits & employee training
But here’s the real problem:
“We Have an IT Department to handle this!” Sometimes Isn’t Enough
Every major breach happens to companies with IT staff, developers, and security teams. Yet mistakes still slip through. Why?
- Comfortable IT staff miss misconfigurations.
- No third-party audits mean blind spots go unnoticed.
- “It won’t happen to us” thinking leads to lax security.
That’s where consultants like me come in.
Why You Need an Outside Cybersecurity Consultant
Even if you have an IT team, hiring an external expert can:
✅ Spot risks your team overlooked (like wide open AWS buckets).
✅ Test defenses with penetration testing.
✅ Train employees on phishing & security best practices.
✅ Ensure compliance with encryption & access controls.
The truth? Most breaches happen because of simple, preventable mistakes. A single consultation could’ve stopped this leak before it started.
Final Thoughts: Don’t Wait for a Breach to Act
If eBay, Shopify, and Amazon’s partners can get hacked, so can you.
🛑 Stop assuming your IT team has everything covered.
🛑 Stop leaving cloud storage unsecured.
🛑 Stop waiting for a breach to take security seriously.
Hire a consultant. Lock down your data. Before hackers do it for you. Let me know if you have any concerns!