Hackers breached Denmark's national registry, exposing data on 8.8 million people

A data breach has exposed the personal data of 8.8 million individuals in Denmark, according to the Ministry of Higher Education and Science. The leak originated from the Central Civil Registration System, which contains sensitive information such as names, addresses, and personal identification numbers. Danish media cited the ministry in a press statement confirming the breach, noting that unauthorized parties accessed this information due to misuse of access privileges granted to a Danish company.

The ministry explained that the incident occurred when individuals exploited legal access rights to conduct searches in the CPR, Denmark's national civil registry. The breach affected individuals beyond Denmark's population of approximately 6 million, as it also included data for deceased persons and those who have emigrated. Cases involving secret identities or protected addresses were not impacted.

Danish police have initiated an investigation, and the Danish Data Protection Agency has been formally notified. Minister Christina Egelund has advised citizens to exercise caution when responding to any suspicious communications.