Denmark's national registry hacked, exposing data of 8.8 million people

Denmark's national registry was hacked in an incident the authorities are calling "extremely serious."

Hackers secured access to personal information on millions of people, the country's digital affairs ministry said on Monday, with the information including names, addresses and social security numbers, also known as national registry numbers.

The data of some 8.8 million registered people was compromised. This includes people who have already died or emigrated, the Danish authorities said in a statement.

The breach by the hackers was through the legitimate login credentials of a local company, initial findings suggest. The hackers have not yet been identified.

Information of deceased, emigrated people included

Denmark has a population of six million people. However, its national registry includes information of eleven million people, which includes the data of those deceased or people who have moved abroad and don't live in Denmark anymore.

Christina Egelund, Denmark's digital affairs minister, said the incident's full extent will investigated by the authorities.

"This is an extremely serious incident," Egelund said.

Danish news agency Ritzau reported that the register includes information on church membership, details of legal incapacitation and restrictions on legal capacity.

Edited by: Wesley Dockery