Denmark probes hack of national database affecting 8.8m people

An illustrative image of an unethical hacker. Source: AI generated

Hackers broke into Denmark’s national registry and gained access to personal information on millions of people, the digital affairs ministry said Monday.

“The administration of the national registry (CPR) has found that unauthorised individuals obtained illegal access, in particular to the names, addresses and CPR numbers of around 8.8 million registered people,” including those who have died or emigrated, the ministry said in a press release, referring to Denmark’s social security numbers.

“This is an extremely serious incident,” the Digital Affairs Minister, Christina Egelund, was quoted as saying in the press release.

“Together with all the relevant authorities, we are in the process of mapping out the full extent of the incident,” she added.

Denmark has a population of around six million, but the national registry has information on 11 million, including data of those deceased and people who have emigrated from the country.

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An investigation has been launched into the incident, with the hackers not yet identified, the statement said.

They broke into the national registry by hacking into a Danish company that legally had access to it, the government said, adding that the access has not been revoked.

AFP

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