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Dutch Police Data Breach
Hackers stole data of nearly all 65,000 Dutch police employees through a stolen browser cookie. Intelligence agencies suspect a foreign government was involved.
Dutch
Netherlands
NetherlandsCybersecurityInvestigationIntelligenceCyberattackSecurity BreachData Theft
Dutch PoliceAivdMivdMicrosoft
Stan Duijf
- What information was stolen in the hack?
- The stolen cookie allowed the hackers to impersonate the police employee and access the Outlook address book, which contained names, email addresses, and sometimes phone numbers of nearly all police staff.
- What is the impact of the hack on the Dutch police?
- The impact of the hack is significant, affecting both employees and operations, even though the police believe their security measures were initially adequate. The investigation is ongoing to identify all perpetrators and understand the extent of the data breach.
- How did the hackers gain access to the Dutch police's data?
- Hackers stole a browser cookie from a Dutch police employee, gaining access to a system and stealing the email address book containing almost all 65,000 employees' information.
- What methods did the hackers likely use to steal the cookie?
- The police believe that the attackers used malicious software to steal the cookie, likely exploiting vulnerabilities in existing software or tricking an employee into installing the software. The investigation is ongoing to determine how exactly this occurred.
- Who is suspected of being behind the hack, and what is the current status of the investigation?
- The Dutch intelligence services AIVD and MIVD suspect a foreign government was behind the hack, though they haven't disclosed which one. Sources have indicated that Russia is a likely suspect. The police have implemented additional security measures.