Denmark’s national registry breached, data of 8.8 million people exposed

Hackers succeeded in penetrating [Denmark’s national registry (CPR)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CPR_number), gaining access to personal details of about 8.8 million people, the Ministry of Digital Affairs announced on Monday.

“The administration of the national registry has discovered that unauthorised parties illegally accessed names, addresses and CPR numbers of roughly 8.8 million registered individuals,” the ministry said in a press release, noting that the data also covers those who have died or left the country.

“This is an extremely serious incident,” [Christina Egelund](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christina_Egelund), the digital affairs minister, was quoted as saying.

She added that, together with the relevant authorities, the government is mapping the full scope of the breach.

Denmark’s total population is about six million, yet the registry holds records for around 11 million people, including deceased citizens and emigrants.

An official inquiry has been opened, though the perpetrators have not yet been identified.

According to the government, the attackers entered the system by compromising a Danish company that was legally permitted to access the registry, and that access has not yet been revoked.