List the contents before extraction:
tar -tzf mernis.tar.gz
Look for suspicious filenames like run.sh, backdoor.py, payload.bin, or unusual binary names.
Once extracted, you will typically find one of the following:
Scenario A: It is a massive SQL file (e.g., mernis.sql)
Scenario B: It is a Python/PHP Tool
The structure of the exposed data usually followed this schema:
Turkish authorities blocked access to websites hosting the file and initiated investigations. However, once a file is released on the internet, it is impossible to fully retract (the "Streisand Effect"). The incident served as a catalyst for the "Personal Data Protection Law" (KVKK - Kişisel Verileri Koruma Kurumu), which was enacted shortly after the leak to bring Turkey's data privacy standards closer to the EU's GDPR.