Cyber ​​attack on ICRC reveals data on 515,000 vulnerable people New Cybersecurity

The International Committee of the Red Cross says the intrusion and the cause of the hack are unknown.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) says there has been a hacking attack on its data servers that has jeopardized the confidential information of more than half a million vulnerable people.

The Geneva news agency said on Wednesday that unknown violations this week had affected data on more than 515,000 people “including those separated from their families due to conflict, migration and disasters, including missing persons and their relatives and detainees.”

The information came from 60 chapters of the Red Cross and Red Moon around the world.

“Attacks on the data of missing persons make it even more difficult for families to suffer and suffer,” said ICRC Director-General Robert Mardini in a statement.

“We are all shocked and confused that this humanitarian information would be targeted and endangered.”

External contractor

The ICRC said the breach was aimed at a Swiss foreign contractor who stores data for the humanitarian organization, and there was no indication that the information was publicly shared or leaked.

Agency spokeswoman Crystal Wells said the ICRC could not say for sure that the records had been stolen. “We think it is likely.

Wells said the ICRC did not want to speculate on who might be behind the intrusion.

Addressing the person or persons behind the attack, Mardini appealed: “The real people behind the information you have now, the real families, are one of the least powerful in the world. Please do the right thing. Do not share, sell, spill or otherwise use this information. ”

As we work to understand the nature of this cyberattack, we call on those responsible to step aside.

Do not cause further harm or suffering to vulnerable people by sharing, selling or using their data.

– ICRC (@ICRC) January 19, 2022

This suggests that the ICRC suspects that the culprits are criminals who want to take advantage of the data, for example, with the intent to steal their identity.

The ICRC said the breach forced the closure of its Restoring Family Links program, which aims to bring together relatives separated by conflict, disaster or migration.

ICRC spokesman Ewan Watson said the organization had never suffered a similar-scale hack.