A group of hackers have reportedly illegally acquired the information of more than 129 million Russia-based car owners, threatening with darknet exposure for a crypto-based ransom. 

Specifically, the stolen data reportedly consisted of full names, addresses, passport numbers and other details of Russian car drivers. 

The hackers have reportedly attacked the Russia’s patrol jurisdiction, the General Administration for Traffic Safety of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia, to get the information. 

These datas are reportedly being held for an exchange of cryptocurrency. The full version of the database has the value equivalent to 0.3 BTC (approximately $2,900). The hackers have reportedly also laid out a deal to acquire some “exclusive” data for 1.5 BTC ($14,400). 

Cryptocurrencies have reportedly been involved in a few darknet-based suspicious acts. As revealed by blockchain analytics company Chainalysis from New York, the volume of darknet markets’ crypto flows has increased 2-fold last year, throughout a 4-year time span. 

Cybercriminals reportedly has a tendency to sell stolen information on the darknet for a price next to zero, and some time give it away free-of-charge. Back in April this year, hackers put up more than 500,000 accounts from popular video conferencing platform Zoom up for sale, for not more than a penny each.