Personal data of some 1.5 million people were posted following a cyber attack against a supplier of Swedish computer systems, the Swedish prosecutor’s office announced on Tuesday.
The number of people concerned represents almost 15% of the Swedish population, which amounts to 10.6 million inhabitants. Local communities have been particularly affected.
The attack on the supplier of Miljödata computer systems took place on the weekend of August 23 and 24.
“The data stolen within the framework of the attack against the supplier of computer systems have now been disclosed. This is data from more than 1.5 million private persons, “said prosecutor Sandra Helgadottir, adding that a survey on this data violation was underway.
Darknet data
A group responding to the name of Datacarry claimed the attack and the investigation focuses on the identification of the manager (s), she added.
“There is currently no evidence suggesting the involvement of a foreign power,” she said.
According to the Swedish media, the hackers demanded 1.5 bitcoin (around 150,000 euros) while threatening to disclose the data.
Miljödata said during the weekend that data had been published on the Darknet. These disclosed data include names, addresses and contact details.
The Swedish Privacy Protective Authority said in late August that it had received 250 reports from the parties concerned.
According to the authority, at least 164 municipalities and four regional authorities were affected by the attack.
The city of Göteborg, in particular, was affected by hacking, according to the SVT public channel. Private companies have also seen their compromised data, including the Volvo truck manufacturer, the airline SAS and the manufacturer of plane engines GKN Aerospace.
