Data breach hits nearly all residents of Dutch town Epe

In March, a cyberattack on the municipality of Epe compromised the personal data of residents. Hackers stole names, addresses, BSN numbers and around 1,000 copies of identity documents, affecting the town’s 32,000 residents.

After about a month and a half of investigation, the municipality disclosed the full scope: nearly all residents had personal data stolen, including BSNs, and around 1,000 copies of IDs were taken. The mayor characterized the incident as theft rather than a leak, saying, 'People call it a leak, but it's theft.'

The case underscores cybersecurity risks for local government and the ongoing challenge of protecting residents’ personal information in the wake of the Epe breach.