Denmark: Data of millions compromised in hack
The breach by the hackers was through the legitimate login credentials of a local company, initial findings suggest. The data of some 8.8 million registered people was compromised
Denmark's national registry experienced a severe cyber attack, exposing personal data of millions, according to authorities. The breach, described as "extremely serious," saw hackers gain unauthorized access to sensitive information, including names, addresses, and social security numbers, affecting an estimated 8.8 million registered individuals.
This figure surpasses Denmark's population of about six million due to the inclusion of deceased persons and those who have emigrated. The unauthorized access was reportedly facilitated through the legitimate login credentials of a local company. The hackers remain unidentified, but their access has since been blocked. The incident was initially detected in September, prompting an investigation by Danish authorities.
Digital Affairs Minister Christina Egelund emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating that the investigation aims to determine the full scope of the breach, which also encompasses data on church membership, legal incapacitation, and restrictions on legal capacity.
Written by urgent.news from DW English (Top Stories)'s reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
Also reported by 4 other outlets
- Denmark: Data of millions compromised in hack dw.com
- Denmark Data Breach Exposes 8.8 Million People’s Personal Data insurancejournal.com
- Data breach at Denmark’s national population register exposes 8.8 million people therecord.media
- Hackers breached Denmark's national registry, exposing data on 8.8 million people qz.com