Audi

A massive data breach affecting Audi and Volkswagen customers occurred in August 2019 when a vendor left sensitive information on an unsecured server. The exposure originated from a marketing services provider that left a database accessible to the public without password protection. The leak compromised personal data of millions of customers and prospective buyers in the United States and Canada. Exposed details included contact information and vehicle purchase or inquiry history. For a smaller subset of users more sensitive information such as driver license numbers and social security numbers was exposed. The incident highlights the risks associated with third party data management in the automotive industry.