Hack of Red Cross exposes data on over 500,000 vulnerable people
The Geneva-based ICRC said the breach targeted an external company in Switzerland that stores data for the humanitarian organisation.
Keystone / Laurent Gillieron
The Geneva-based International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has been the victim of a “sophisticated cyber-attack”. Servers hosting the personal and confidential data of more than 515,000 extremely vulnerable people have been compromised.
This content was published on
2 minutes
ICRC/RTS/Reuters/sb
Español
es
CICR: Piratas informáticos acceden a datos de más de 500 000 personas vulnerables
The humanitarian organisation said on Wednesday that the breach by unknown intruders this week affected the data of hundreds of thousands of people “including those separated from their families due to conflict, migration and disaster, missing persons and their families, and people in detention”.
It said the information originated from at least 60 Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies around the world.
The most pressing concern for the Swiss-run organisation is the “potential risks that come with this breach – including confidential information being shared publicly – for people whom the Red Cross and Red Crescent network seeks to protect and assist, as well as their families”.
The ICRC said the breach targeted an external company in Switzerland that stores data for the humanitarian organisation, and there was no indication the information had been publicly shared or leaked.
“We are all appalled and perplexed that this humanitarian information would be targeted and compromised,” Robert Mardini, the ICRC’s director-general, said in a statementExternal link.
Mardini issued an appeal to the people behind the hack to “do the right thing. Do not share, sell, leak or otherwise use this data”.
As a result of the breach the Red Cross has been forced to shut down systems around its “Restoring Family Links” programme, which helps to reunite family members separated by conflict, disaster or migration.
“We are working as quickly as possible to identify workarounds to continue this vital work,” Mardini said.
More
The changing face of International Geneva
International Geneva is an important hub for multilateralism. But it is facing some unprecedented challenges.
Is your place of origin, your Heimatort, important to you?
Every Swiss citizen has a Heimatort, a place of origin, but many have never visited theirs. What’s your relationship with your Heimatort? What does it mean to you?
Parmelin meets Swiss businesses in US as IMF predicts 0.9% growth for Switzerland
This content was published on
Economics Minister Guy Parmelin met Swiss businesses in the US during IMF and World Bank meetings. The IMF now forecasts 0.9% GDP growth for Switzerland.
An atomic ‘tick-tock’ with Swiss technology heads to space to test the Einstein effect
This content was published on
On Monday, the European Space Agency (ESA) launched the ACES set of atomic clocks to measure the effect of gravity on the passage of time.
Swiss Guard swearing-in ceremony postponed following Pope Francis death
This content was published on
The swearing-in ceremony of the Pontifical Swiss Guard, which usually takes place on May 6 each year, has been postponed to a date to be announced next autumn.
Swiss medical device maker Ypsomed to sell diabetes business
This content was published on
Bern-based injection device manufacturer Ypsomed announced on Tuesday that it was selling its diabetes-related activities.
Award-winning Swiss author and scholar Peter von Matt dies aged 87
This content was published on
The Alemannic writer and former professor of German literature Peter von Matt died on Monday in Zurich at the age of 87, following a long illness.
Swiss foreign minister spoke with Iranian counterpart about US dialogue
This content was published on
Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis has spoken with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi about the current dialogue between the US and Iran.
Swiss foreign minister appeals for cohesion and dialogue at Expo in Japan
This content was published on
Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis called for cohesion and dialogue at the opening of the Swiss National Day at Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan, on Tuesday.
Switzerland postpones launch of emergency number for domestic violence victims
This content was published on
The launch of the “142” emergency number, which aims to help victims of domestic violence in Switzerland, has been postponed to May 2026.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Ransomware attacks on the rise in Switzerland
This content was published on
Only 94 ransomware incidents were reported in the first half of the year, but the real number is believed to be closer to 2,000.
More Swiss firms facing cyber-attacks and ransom demands
This content was published on
Ransomware attacks by hackers continue to increase sharply, with some 2,700 Swiss firms falling victim over the past year, Beobachter magazine says.
This content was published on
The Swiss-run International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) will cut 95 posts owing to financial pressures linked to the Covid-19 pandemic.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.