Sahra Wagenknecht's BSW Faces Data Breach Crisis
Sahra Wagenknecht's BSW Data Breach Incident
After a significant data leak in March, reports indicate that unauthorized access has again compromised sensitive information related to supporters of Sahra Wagenknecht's BSW.
According to the media outlet Correctiv, a file containing 70,000 personal data entries from June has emerged, which includes membership lists and information about supporters and regional representatives. A spokesperson for the BSW stated that they believe this to be a hacker attack. They learned about the breach through Correctiv's research on Monday and have initiated countermeasures.
Those potentially affected have been notified, and an internal investigation into possible causes is ongoing. Moreover, authorities in Berlin and Karlsruhe have been informed. The Berlin investigators are responsible for the newly founded party established in January, while the Karlsruhe office pertains to the predecessor association registered in the fall.
Details on Previous Breaches
In March, Der Spiegel had reported about another leak affecting up to 35,000 individuals, including 5,000 donors and 30,000 newsletter subscribers.
At that time, the publication reportedly had a list including names and email addresses of donors, alongside approximate donation amounts, while the newsletter subscribers' data mostly consisted of email addresses. Correctiv subsequently revealed that the most recent data exposed, which includes 70,000 personal entries, had apparently been unprotected online not long ago. Correctiv stated, "The most recent data originates from June and could still be downloaded via the website at that time."
In contrast, the BSW spokesperson insisted that they believe the data was not publicly accessible but rather acquired through a focused attack. "We certainly ensure that all data is properly secured," the spokesperson mentioned. Following the breach disclosed in March, the BSW claimed to have informed the public prosecutor's office and the relevant data protection authority, contacted service providers, and assessed security measures implemented.
This article was prepared using information from open sources in accordance with the principles of Ethical Policy. The editorial team is not responsible for absolute accuracy, as it relies on data from the sources referenced.