Bergen municipality in Norway has recently revealed that a significant data breach has impacted between 2,000 and 2,500 of its employees and politicians. The breach has led to the theft and distribution of personal data, including names, phone numbers, and SMS logs. This alarming situation has been confirmed by the municipality in a press release, highlighting the severity of the hacking incident. Local news outlet BT initially reported on the breach, suggesting it is part of a broader cyber attack that has also targeted Telia, a major telecommunications company in Norway.

In response to the breach, Bergen municipality is treating the situation with utmost seriousness and is in close discussions with Telia to assess the repercussions of the stolen information. Financial advisor Eirik Tenfjord stated that various departments within the municipality are actively evaluating the risks associated with the compromised data and are considering necessary measures for their service operations. The municipality aims to safeguard sensitive information to prevent further damage and protect the privacy of affected individuals.

The larger context involves a substantial cyber attack that has impacted 17 Norwegian municipalities, with approximately 400,000 files reportedly uploaded to the dark web by the hacker group responsible for the breach. This incident is currently under police investigation, reflecting a growing trend of cyber threats on public sector entities in Norway, and underscores the need for enhanced cybersecurity measures across municipalities to protect sensitive data from similar attacks in the future.