The International Committee of the Red Cross announced on Wednesday that it had been the victim of a vast cyberattack during which hackers seized the data of more than 515,000 extremely vulnerable people, some of whom fled conflicts, and prisoners.

"This cyberattack puts vulnerable people, those who are already in need of humanitarian services, at even greater risk," International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Director General Robert Mardini said in a statement.

The attack was detected this week by the organization based in Geneva (Switzerland).

We take this breach extremely seriously and are working closely with our humanitarian partners to protect our data.

https://t.co/0k6d0Jp0kE

— ICRC (@ICRC_fr) January 20, 2022

“Do not share, do not sell this data”

She says she has no immediate information on the perpetrators of this cyberattack, which targeted an external company in Switzerland with which the ICRC has signed contracts to store data. “While we don't know who is responsible for this attack, or why they carried it out, we have this appeal to them. Your actions could potentially cause even more harm and pain to those who have already endured untold suffering,” said Robert Mardini. And to add: “Do not share, sell, disclose or use this data in any way. »

According to the ICRC, there is no indication so far that the compromised information has been disclosed or shared publicly.

This cyberattack “compromised personal data and confidential information of more than 515,000 extremely vulnerable people, including people separated from their families in the context of conflicts, migration and disasters, missing persons and their families, and persons in detention”.

Improve data backup

This data came from at least 60 National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies around the world. "Attacking the data of people who are missing makes the anguish and suffering of families even more difficult to bear," said Robert Mardini. During conflicts and disasters, families can lose track of a loved one. The ICRC and National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies work to clarify the fate of missing persons, exchange family messages and reunite families.

“Every day, the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement helps reunite an average of 12 missing people with their families.

That's a dozen joyful family reunifications every day.

Cyberattacks like this jeopardize this essential work,” said Robert Mardini.

The ICRC said it was working with its humanitarian partners around the world to understand the scope of the attack and take appropriate steps to safeguard its data in the future.

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