Most Common Consequences of Data Breaches for Russians Revealed

A recent survey by the Garda Data Protection Competence Center indicates that an alarming 81% of Russians encounter fraudulent activities after their personal data is compromised. Following a comprehensive nationwide poll, the center`s analysts have identified the most frequent repercussions experienced by individuals whose private information has been leaked.

The company`s findings highlight that “the most prevalent consequence of data leaks in 2025 is unsolicited calls from fraudsters, affecting 81% of survey respondents. Following this, social media account hacks rank second, impacting 39% of participants. Financial losses were reported by 6% of citizens, while breaches of banking applications and government public services are recorded at 5% and 4% respectively.”

Further analysis by Garda revealed that 54% of Russians have personally experienced data leaks. However, a significant portion — half of these individuals — do not use available services designed to check whether their personal information has been exposed. Among those who do take the initiative to verify, two-thirds discover that their data is indeed publicly accessible.

The study also underscored a notable shift in public awareness and proactive measures. “Over the three years of this research, the proportion of citizens who take no action after a data breach has dramatically decreased by 94% — plummeting from 51% in 2023 to a mere 3% in 2025,” the company reported. The majority now actively seek to mitigate the fallout: 32% have changed or ceased using compromised data, and 26% have discontinued services from the companies responsible for the breaches. Additionally, 17% have sought assistance from law enforcement or revoked consent for personal data processing, and 5% have initiated legal proceedings.

In a related development, a prevalent fraudulent scheme targeting Russians was recently exposed. The country`s Ministry of Internal Affairs reported that criminals have been establishing accounts on various messaging platforms, offering ostensible services for importing and purchasing automobiles from abroad. These schemes are then used as a deceptive front to perpetrate scams and defraud individuals.