Cyber attack on the subsidy settlement system. Possible data leak

The sopprogramy.mkidn.gov.pl platform, through which applications for funding under the Programs of the Minister of Culture and National Heritage can be submitted, was attacked. In the SOP system, through the sopstypendia.mkidn.gov.pl portal, applications for scholarships from the Minister of Culture are also processed.

The attack was to take place on October 6. The ministry assures that it was detected on the same day.

The Ministry has prepared an emergency procedure that enables the implementation of granted subsidies and current settlement of projects regardless of the SOP system. We are at the stage of forwarding the procedure to the applicants affected by it, said Piotr Jędrzejowski, spokesman for the Ministry of Culture.

The ministry spokesman explained that no traces of data being copied or sent externally were identified in the system, but a leak cannot be ruled out.

What data could have fallen into the hands of cybercriminals?

There are approximately 24,000 registered in the SOP system. users. Okay. 14 thousand accounts related to the programs of the Minister of Culture, approximately 10 thousand – with scholarships.

According to the information provided by the ministry, a possible data leak could include categories such as:

name and surname,

residential address, registered address, business address,

phone number,

email address,

PESEL number,

ID document number and series,

citizenship,

country,

bank account number.

As in the case of most typical cyberattacks, the ministry suggests that you reserve your PESEL number and remain vigilant, as the data may be used to attempt fraud.

After a cyber attack on the website sopprogramy.mkidn.gov.pl, the SOP system was disabled. Access to the data was blocked and the system was secured, and the incident was reported, among others, to the Personal Data Protection Office.

What industries use the attacked system?

The Program Management System of the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage was implemented in autumn 2024. As part of the recruitment for the programs of the Minister of Culture for 2025, over 13,000 applications were submitted via the SOP. projects up to 32 programs. The ministry allocated PLN 537 million to co-finance them. These include initiatives related to, among others: with artistic and cultural education, literature, music, promotion of reading, theater, folk art and protection of monuments.