Cybercriminals Claim Access to Sensitive Council of Europe Data

Council of Europe Investigates Alleged Massive Data Breach as Hackers Claim Access to Sensitive HR Records

• Hackers Claim Massive Council of Europe Data Breach Exposed HR Records
• Council of Europe Probes Alleged Leak of Hundreds of Thousands of Employee Files
• Major European Institution Investigates Reported Data Breach
• ShinyHunters Targets Council of Europe in Alleged Massive Cyberattack
• Payroll Records and CVs Allegedly Exposed in Council of Europe Breach
• Europe’s Cybersecurity Concerns Grow After New Data Breach Claims Surface
• Council of Europe Faces Questions After Hackers Claim Huge Data Leak

The Council of Europe is facing growing scrutiny after a notorious cybercrime group claimed responsibility for a major data breach that could have exposed hundreds of thousands of sensitive personnel records.

According to reports circulating within the cybersecurity community, the hacking group known as ShinyHunters alleges it has obtained nearly 300GB of data from the Council of Europe, including payroll records, employee documents, CVs, and other potentially sensitive human resources information. The organization is currently assessing the claims as investigators work to determine whether the breach is genuine and how much data may have been compromised.

What Hackers Claim to Have Stolen

The alleged dataset is said to contain more than 400,000 payslips, thousands of job applications, personnel files, and internal HR-related documents. If verified, the breach could rank among the most significant attacks targeting a major European institution in recent years.

Cybersecurity experts warn that employee information, payroll data, and recruitment records are particularly valuable to cybercriminals because they can be used for identity theft, financial fraud, phishing attacks, and social engineering schemes.

A Growing Wave of Attacks on European Institutions

The incident comes amid increasing cyber threats against European organizations and public institutions. Earlier this year, cybercriminals claimed responsibility for a significant breach involving infrastructure connected to the European Commission, highlighting the growing risks facing government and international organizations.

Security analysts say cybercriminal groups are increasingly targeting organizations that hold large volumes of personal information, betting that the reputational damage and regulatory consequences will increase pressure on victims.

Why This Matters

The Council of Europe plays a key role in promoting human rights, democracy, and the rule of law across Europe. A successful intrusion involving employee and administrative data could raise concerns about operational security, data governance, and the protection of sensitive information within major international institutions.

If personal information was accessed, affected individuals could face heightened risks from targeted scams, credential theft, and fraudulent communications masquerading as legitimate institutional messages.

Investigation Underway

Officials have not yet confirmed the full scope of the alleged breach, and investigators are working to verify the authenticity of the hackers’ claims. Cybersecurity teams are expected to examine whether any systems were compromised, what information may have been exposed, and whether affected individuals need to be notified.

The case serves as another reminder that even organizations dedicated to governance, cybersecurity cooperation, and data protection remain attractive targets for increasingly sophisticated cybercriminal groups.

As investigations continue, the cybersecurity community will be watching closely to determine whether the hackers’ claims are legitimate and what the incident could reveal about the evolving threat landscape facing Europe’s most prominent institutions.