Hackers Access Highly Protected Registry at Liechtenstein's Justice Office

An unknown perpetrator has illegally accessed a secure registry at Liechtenstein's Office of Justice, stealing sensitive data concerning the beneficial owners of approximately 31,000 legal entities. The breach, which has sent shockwaves through the principality's financial sector, compromises personal details of individuals associated with foundations, trusts, and companies.

Liechtenstein's head of government, Brigitte Haas, announced the incident on Sunday evening and immediately convened a crisis team. The stolen data includes personal information about the individuals who are the ultimate economic beneficiaries of these entities. While the perpetrators' motives remain unclear, experts suggest they may be more interested in data related to foreign-controlled companies than domestic businesses.

"We cannot yet provide any information about the perpetrators or any attempts at financial demands or purchase offers on the darknet," stated Haas, alongside Justice Minister Emanuel Schädler. There are currently no indications that data within the system has been altered or deleted. The crisis team's primary tasks include informing affected individuals, thoroughly investigating the digital attack, and initiating preventative measures.

Following the discovery of the hack, immediate steps were taken to secure the data, and the affected system was taken offline. Forensic analysis indicates the attack was targeted specifically at this one registry, with other systems temporarily disconnected as a precaution. Investigations into the exact method of the breach are ongoing, with the Office of Information Technology and external partners leading the analysis, and law enforcement authorities actively involved.

The compromised registry, established in 2021 to comply with the EU's fifth anti-money laundering directive, holds some of the most sensitive data related to corporate ownership. The incident poses a significant threat to Liechtenstein's reputation as a stable financial center.

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We cannot yet provide any information about the perpetrators or any attempts at financial demands or purchase offers on the darknet.