Council of Europe Data Theft Claimed: What European Families Should Know

A cybercrime group called ShinyHunters has claimed they stole 297GB of data from the Council of Europe. They are threatening to publish this data unless their demands are met by June

16. The Council of Europe has confirmed a cybersecurity incident occurred, but the theft claims have not been verified yet. The Council of Europe is an international organization focused on human rights and democracy in Europe. If the claim is true, the stolen data could include information about European citizens who have interacted with the Council. However, at this time, we do not know exactly what information was taken or who is affected. The claim remains unconfirmed. If you or your family members have had any contact with the Council of Europe (such as submitting human rights complaints, applying for jobs, or participating in programs), take these steps now:
17. Monitor your email for any official notifications from the Council of Europe.
18. Watch your bank and credit card statements carefully for unusual activity.
19. Be extra cautious about emails claiming to be from the Council of Europe, especially those asking for personal information or passwords.
20. Do not click links in unexpected emails, even if they appear official. To protect yourself long term, use unique passwords for every important account. Enable two-factor authentication wherever possible. Be skeptical of unsolicited emails asking for personal information, even if they look legitimate. Teach your family members, especially older relatives, to verify requests by contacting organizations directly through official phone numbers or websites.