Cybercrime: International Red Cross suffers hacker attack

The International Red Cross (ICRC) has informed the public about a sensitive data theft. In the course of a cyberattack, personal data of about 500,000 people is said to have been stolen. In particular, people who are considered particularly worthy of protection have been affected.

In the sights: servers in Switzerland

In the data theft, it was not the humanitarian aid organization itself that was attacked. Instead, the perpetrators targeted the company in Switzerland contracted to store the data. However, it does not appear to have been a random attack. The personal data obtained is far too sensitive for that. The attackers focused on personal data from many different Red Cross and Red Crescent societies. These organizations help people in emergency situations. These include, above all, people in humanitarian emergencies. But politically persecuted people are also listed in the database.

Head of the ICRC shows horror

It is possible that the perpetrators could now try to extort politically persecuted persons, among others. All the more clearly the responsible persons of the humanitarian society appeal to the perpetrators not to publish the data. In view of the serious attack, it is hardly surprising that the director general of the internationally active aid organization is dismayed. Commenting on the incident, Robert Mardini said the following:

“We are all appalled and stunned that this humanitarian information is being targeted and compromised. […] This cyberattack puts people who are already in need of humanitarian assistance at even greater risk.”