Foreign Ministry of Denmark cyber-attacked

It took four months before anyone noticed

Lucie Rychla

The Foreign Ministry was cyber-attacked last year by a well-organised group of hackers, most likely supported by a country in the Middle East, reports Jyllands-Posten.

At least four months went by before anyone noticed hackers were trying to steal data from the ministry, revealed a report from the Center for Cyber ​​Security.

Hackers managed to install a remotely-operated malicious program into a computer at a Danish embassy, which was designed to steal information from the Foreign Ministry.

Used Arabic names
A hidden virus was sent to an employee of the embassy via email.

According to Thomas Lund-Sørensen, the head of the Center for Cyber ​​Security, “everything suggests another state was behind the attack”.

The Arabic names and terms used by the hackers indicate it was a Middle Eastern country, writes Jyllands-Posten.

First successful breach
Lund-Sørensen said the hackers did not manage to steal any data, but Ulf Mukedal, a security expert from FortConsult, disagrees.

“If the alarm went off first after four or more months, the damage has been done and the computer could have very well stolen some data,” Mukedal told Jyllands-Posten.

According to Lund-Sørensen, it was the first time someone succeeded in breaching the ministry’s protection.

TOP STORIES

  • Danish Intelligence Service: Threat from Russia has intensified

    Danish Intelligence Service: Threat from Russia has intensified

    In the internal Danish waters, Russia will be able to attack underwater infrastructure from all types of vessels. The target could be cables with data, electricity and gas, assesses the Danish Defense Intelligence Service

  • Denmark to explore screening citizenship applicants for anti-democratic sentiments

    Denmark to explore screening citizenship applicants for anti-democratic sentiments

    A few weeks after Alex Vanopslagh’s comments about “right values,” the government announced that an expert committee would be established to examine the feasibility of screening citizenship applicants for anti-democratic attitudes.

  • The Future Copenhagen

    The Future Copenhagen

    The municipality plan encompasses building 40,000 houses by 2036 in order to help drive real estate prices down. But this is not the only huge project that will change the shape of the city: Lynetteholmen, M5 metro line, the Eastern Ring Road, and Jernbanebyen will transform Copenhagen into something different from what we know today

  • It’s not you: winter depression is affecting many people

    It’s not you: winter depression is affecting many people

    Many people in Denmark are facing hard times marked by sadness, anxiety, and apathy. It’s called winter depression, and it’s a widespread phenomenon during the cold months in Nordic countries.

  • Crime rates are rising, but people are safer

    Crime rates are rising, but people are safer

    Crime in Denmark is increasing for the second consecutive year, but it is more focused on property, while people appear to be safer than before. Over the past year, there were fewer incidents of violence

  • Novo Nordisk invests 8.5 billion DKK in new Odense facility

    Novo Nordisk invests 8.5 billion DKK in new Odense facility

    Despite Novo’s announcement that its growth abroad will be larger than in Denmark, the company announced this morning an 8.5 billion DKK investment for a new facility in Odense. This is the first time the company has established a new production site in Denmark this century.

Connect club

Connect Club is your gateway to a vibrant programme of events and an international community in Denmark.

Sign up here

Career

Want to advertise your job with CPH Post?

Contact us

Jobs