Red Cross Breach

The International Committee of the Red Cross has been offering international aid since 1863. They aim to support any victim of violence, particularly those trying to survive in wartorn countries.

What Was the Breach?

The charitable organization Red Cross was breached earlier this year, exposing more than half a million records. The hack culminated in the theft of what the company refers to as "highly vulnerable" information. The questions are, what, exactly, will become of the stolen information, and how will the ensuing criminal activity wreak havoc on the lives of innocent people?

How Did the Breach Occur?

The initial reports stated that the attack was not related to ransomware. However, subsequent reports indicated the attackers might have employed ransomware methods. There have also been some rumblings that hackers used malware or stolen identities to access the accounts.

The hackers behind this attack may have used various methods to pilfer the information. Cybersecurity professionals believe a nation-state is behind the attack. In particular, digital forensics specialists highlighted the hackers' access to systems through third-party service providers. An unpatched susceptibility was identified as a critical flaw exploited in the attack.

When Did This Breach Occur?

This breach occurred in January 2022.

Who Does the Breach Impact?

The breach impacts those who received assistance from Red Cross, donors, and the company itself. The information accessed in the breach belongs to innocent victims, making the potential use of ransomware all the more disturbing.

How Many Files Does the Breach Affect?

In total, more than half a million accounts were accessed in the attack. Red Cross representatives indicated they would attempt to keep the compromised individuals in the loop as more information about the breach and potential instances of identity theft are revealed in the aftermath of the attack. To read more about the breach, read our blog post: Personal Information of More Than Half a Million at Risk After Red Cross Cyber-Attack.