Hackers steal records tied to about 8 million people from Denmark’s CPR
The breach hits a core identity database and has led to blocked access and a police investigation.
Denmark says hackers stole personal data tied to about 8 million people from the country’s Central Person Register, one of its core identity databases, making this likely the biggest cyber breach in Danish history. Officials say the intruders used a Danish company’s legitimate access to query the system, and the exposed information included names, addresses, social security numbers and other registry details. The incident happened in September and was discovered on October 2, after which the company’s access was cut off and police opened an investigation. The breach matters beyond Denmark because the CPR holds records on roughly 11 million people, including residents abroad and deceased citizens, so it affects a large share of the country’s identity infrastructure.
Why it matters
For people whose details sit in the CPR, the breach means core identity data was exposed through a system used for official records, not a fringe service. Because the register covers about 11 million people, the impact reaches well beyond the 8 million records reported stolen and puts a large part of Denmark’s identity infrastructure under strain. The response now moves from containment to investigation, with the private company’s access cut off and police involved.
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Sources
- TechCrunch
- BleepingComputer