Hacker Claims New Data Breach Impacting Ministers, Prosecutors, and Security Forces
Recent reports have emerged of a significant data breach attributed to an unidentified hacker, known as PoliceEspDoxed. This incident has allegedly compromised personal information of various high-ranking officials in Spain, including government ministers, prosecutors, and police personnel.
Details of the Data Breach
The breach encompasses sensitive data, such as national identity numbers, phone numbers, email addresses, and residential addresses. Affected entities include:
- Members of the National Security Council
- Officials from the Public Prosecutor’s Office, including Attorney General Teresa Peramato
- High-ranking officers from the National Police and Civil Guard
This information has reportedly been made available for download on the hacker’s website, raising serious concerns about national security.
Timeline of the Breach
On February 26, the hacker first disclosed their activities on an online forum, claiming to have leaked information on over 50 current employees of the Public Prosecutor’s Office. The hacker emphasized that many of these individuals are not public figures, and their identities remain confidential.
Shortly afterward, on February 28, the hacker released data pertaining to members of the National Police and Civil Guard, including login credentials for significant administrative panels linked to both organizations.
On the following Sunday, the hacker announced a smaller leak concerning the National Security Council. They described this leak as containing information on important figures in Spain.
Increasing Incidents of Cybercrime
The frequency of these alleged data breaches in Spain has led to heightened fears regarding cybersecurity. Criminals often share personal data of both private citizens and notable figures in hacker forums. This data is typically not sourced from new breaches but is often collated from earlier vulnerabilities, which raises doubts about the authenticity of these findings.
Just weeks ago, a different hacker claimed to have accessed information on millions of Spanish citizens via a breach of the Ministry of Hacienda’s systems. The government responded by denying any detection of intrusion.
Ongoing Challenges in Cybersecurity
The cybersecurity situation for Spain’s public administration remains precarious. In October of the previous year, authorities arrested two minors responsible for leaking personal data of high-ranking officials, including Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and director of the National Intelligence Centre, Esperanza Casteleiro.
This string of breaches indicates that significant improvements in cybersecurity are necessary to protect sensitive information from potential threats.
