Teen Hacks Open Microsoft Database; US Counties Push Back on Data Centers
TechRadar reports an open Microsoft database with 17 trillion rows and 25,000 user accounts was hacked by a bored teenager who was well-paid, while Charlotte, Pima County and Guildford County try to stop data centers from taking over.
The same outlet also reported that U.S. counties are trying to stop data centers from taking over. TechRadar's headline said Charlotte, Pima County and Guildford County are dealing with the onslaught, and that their response includes an "interesting catch." The available article text did not detail the catch, the specific measures the counties are considering, or any votes, lawsuits or agreements.
The two TechRadar reports were published within an hour of each other on Oct. 5, 2026. One centers on a cybersecurity incident involving a database described as open and tied to Microsoft. The other centers on local government resistance to data center expansion in three U.S. jurisdictions.
TechRadar's database report described the incident's scale through two figures: 17 trillion total rows and 25,000 user accounts. Its data center report framed the issue as counties "desperately" trying to prevent data centers from "taking over," naming Charlotte, Pima County and Guildford County as examples.
No additional details about the Microsoft database incident were included in the material reviewed. No additional details about the counties' strategies or the "interesting catch" were included either. Both accounts rely on TechRadar's headlines and the limited text provided by the publication.