Anyone can purchase private data from a U.S. company for as low as $50. The company’s main consumer product, “Infostealers,” is available on its website, Infostealers.info. This platform offers more than just basic information that might be found on typical people search sites; it aggregates data sourced directly from breaches and thefts of sensitive information, which are illegal in many jurisdictions.
Users can access a comprehensive suite of data, including auto-fill addresses stored in browsers for convenience. Farnsworth Intelligence, the company behind this tool, also offers a more advanced product called the Infostealer Data Platform. This service provides access to usernames and passwords, though it’s not available to everyone.
Interested purchasers must demonstrate a valid reason for their request, among acceptable purposes like private investigations, journalism, law enforcement, and cybersecurity. Notably, no warrants seem required to access this stolen data. Farnsworth Intelligence openly markets its ability to gather information through questionable means, claiming its human intelligence capabilities have allowed it to infiltrate sensitive systems for corporate advantage.
The company promotes uses for its data like corporate due diligence and enhanced background checks, but the methods of acquiring this extensive data remain undisclosed. While legitimate reasons exist for cataloging stolen databases, the commercial sale of such information raises ethical concerns. This practice can easily facilitate harm, such as an abusive ex-partner stalking a victim using recently acquired addresses.
Collecting and selling stolen private information without consideration of potential harmful consequences reflects a profound disregard for ethics. Cooper Quintin from the Electronic Frontier Foundation similarly emphasizes that selling stolen goods, regardless of who stole them, is fundamentally wrong. Attempts to contact Farnsworth Intelligence for comments went unanswered.