The Dutch justice minister stated on Wednesday that the hacking of thousands of police contact details last week was most likely the work of an unidentified “state actor”. According to Dutch media reports, David van Weel disclosed the data leak on Friday, which included information on nearly all 65,000 police personnel in the country. In a letter to parliament, Van Weel stated, “The intelligence and security services consider it highly likely that a state actor is responsible” for the breach.
He did not mention any particular nation. The information that the stolen details—which, according to Van Weel, contained “names, email addresses, telephone numbers and in a few cases, personal data”—began to circulate, shocking police officers greatly. “I can imagine that police officers are concerned about the possible consequences of the hack,” Van Weel stated. The minister continued, “The chief of police and I take this hacking incident very seriously.”
“The police, together with national security partners are doing everything they can to protect police officers and prevent further damage,” he said. Both the nation’s security services and police withheld additional details, stating that the probe was still ongoing. The Dutch Military Intelligence and Security Service stated in February it had identified malware in a computer network being used by its military, citing a Chinese state actor.
Beijing vehemently refuted the “groundless accusations,” asserting that it has consistently opposed and taken action against cyberattacks. Four suspected agents of Russia’s GRU military intelligence agency were expelled by the Netherlands in April 2018 for attempting to hack the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) in The Hague. In October, the Dutch, working with British and US officials, deviated from their custom of keeping such operations under wraps and unusually disclosed plot specifics.
Do Follow: CIO News LinkedIn Account | CIO News Facebook | CIO News Youtube | CIO News Twitter
About us:
CIO News is the premier platform dedicated to delivering the latest news, updates, and insights from the CIO industry. As a trusted source in the technology and IT sector, we provide a comprehensive resource for executives and professionals seeking to stay informed and ahead of the curve. With a focus on cutting-edge developments and trends, CIO News serves as your go-to destination for staying abreast of the rapidly evolving landscape of technology and IT. Founded in June 2020, CIO News has rapidly evolved with ambitious growth plans to expand globally, targeting markets in the Middle East & Africa, ASEAN, USA, and the UK.
