As revealed on Wednesday, over 515,000 people are affected by the Red Cross data breach incident. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has no information on who carried out the attack.
Attackers Targeted Contracting Company
The attackers targeted a contracting company located in Switzerland, that ICRC uses to store data.
Types of Data Included in the Data Breach
The data included names, locations and contact information along with employee credentials for about 2000 employees and volunteers. It is yet unknown if the data has been leaked or shared publicly.
Restoring Family Links Network Shuts Down
Due to the data breach, the ICRC has been forced to shut down the “Restoring Family Links” network which helps reunited family members who have been separated by conflict, disaster or migration.
Director-General Asked Attackers Not to Share the Data
Robert Mardini, ICRC’s director-general, asked the attackers not to share the data:
“While we don’t know who is responsible for this attack, or why they carried it out, we do have this appeal to make to them. Your actions could potentially cause yet more harm and pain to those who have already endured untold suffering. The real people, the real families behind the information you now have are among the world’s least powerful. Please do the right thing. Do not share, sell, leak or otherwise use this data.”
