The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) has suffered a significant data breach after hackers from the group ShinyHunters infiltrated the state's DAVID vehicle and driver information database earlier this month. The hackers released hundreds of thousands of files publicly when FLHSMV declined their ransom demand. As proof of the breach, ShinyHunters posted a screenshot connected to Jeffrey Epstein, highlighting the depth of access they gained into the system.

The compromised data includes vehicle ownership certificates containing the names and addresses of both buyers and sellers, as well as vehicle identification numbers. Additionally, a smaller subset of files featured sensitive details such as Social Security numbers, non-U.S. passports, and immigration documents. However, the breach did not appear to expose driver’s license images or photos. The hack reportedly occurred after the attackers used stolen police officer credentials found on a personal device to gain entry into the database.

FLHSMV confirmed the breach last week but has yet to comment on the publication of the data. This incident closely follows another major hack involving identity verification company IDScan, where over 150 million driver’s license images were stolen, marking a troubling period for personal data security within U.S. motor vehicle and identity systems.

The ShinyHunters gang publicly stated their motivation for releasing the stolen information was the state agency's refusal to pay ransom or cooperate with demands. This breach underscores ongoing challenges state agencies face in safeguarding citizen data against increasingly sophisticated cyberattacks and raises concerns about the exposure of sensitive personal and vehicle-related information.