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United Nations Data Breach: What & How It Happened?

United Nations Data Breach: What & How It Happened?

Twingate Team

Jun 22, 2024

In early 2021, the United Nations experienced a data breach, with hackers accessing the organization's computer network. The breach resulted from an employee login obtained from the dark web, leading to ongoing attacks on various branches of the UN. The attackers targeted multiple accounts for reconnaissance and further attacks. Additionally, in April 2024, a separate ransomware attack targeted the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), leading to data theft and affecting local IT infrastructure in UN City, Copenhagen.

How many accounts were compromised?

The breach impacted at least 53 accounts within the United Nations network.

What data was leaked?

The data exposed in the breach included invoices, receipts, accounting documents, certificates, confidential agreements, employment contracts, and personal information.

How was United Nations hacked?

Hackers breached the United Nations' network by obtaining employee login credentials from the dark web and targeting the Umoja system, the UN's proprietary project management software. The attackers gained extensive access to the network and conducted reconnaissance for long-term intelligence gathering. The exact methods and any potential malware involved remain unclear.

United Nations's solution

In response to the hack, the United Nations implemented corrective actions and enhanced security measures to protect its systems and prevent future incidents. This included migrating the Umoja system to Microsoft Corp.'s Azure, which provides multifactor authentication, strengthening security against breaches. The UN also worked with cybersecurity company Resecurity, which informed the organization of the breach early in 2021. Details regarding the removal of malware, backdoors, and notifications to affected individuals remain unclear.

How do I know if I was affected?

It is not clear whether the United Nations reached out to affected users in the aftermath of the breach. If you believe your credentials may have been compromised in this incident, you can visit HaveIBeenPwned to check if your email has been involved in any data breaches.

What should affected users do?

In general, affected users should:

  1. Change Your Passwords: Immediately update your passwords for any accounts that may have been compromised. Make sure the new passwords are strong and unique, not previously used on any other platform.

  2. Reset Passwords for Other Accounts: If you've used the same or similar passwords for other online accounts, reset those as well. This is crucial as attackers often try using stolen passwords on multiple sites.

  3. Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): Activate 2FA on any affected accounts. Consider enabling this additional security feature on all other important online accounts to significantly reduce the risk of unauthorized access.

For more specific help and instructions related to the United Nations data breach, please contact United Nations support directly.

Where can I go to learn more?

If you want to find more information on the United Nations data breach, check out the following news articles:

Rapidly implement a modern Zero Trust network that is more secure and maintainable than VPNs.

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United Nations Data Breach: What & How It Happened?

United Nations Data Breach: What & How It Happened?

Twingate Team

Jun 22, 2024

In early 2021, the United Nations experienced a data breach, with hackers accessing the organization's computer network. The breach resulted from an employee login obtained from the dark web, leading to ongoing attacks on various branches of the UN. The attackers targeted multiple accounts for reconnaissance and further attacks. Additionally, in April 2024, a separate ransomware attack targeted the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), leading to data theft and affecting local IT infrastructure in UN City, Copenhagen.

How many accounts were compromised?

The breach impacted at least 53 accounts within the United Nations network.

What data was leaked?

The data exposed in the breach included invoices, receipts, accounting documents, certificates, confidential agreements, employment contracts, and personal information.

How was United Nations hacked?

Hackers breached the United Nations' network by obtaining employee login credentials from the dark web and targeting the Umoja system, the UN's proprietary project management software. The attackers gained extensive access to the network and conducted reconnaissance for long-term intelligence gathering. The exact methods and any potential malware involved remain unclear.

United Nations's solution

In response to the hack, the United Nations implemented corrective actions and enhanced security measures to protect its systems and prevent future incidents. This included migrating the Umoja system to Microsoft Corp.'s Azure, which provides multifactor authentication, strengthening security against breaches. The UN also worked with cybersecurity company Resecurity, which informed the organization of the breach early in 2021. Details regarding the removal of malware, backdoors, and notifications to affected individuals remain unclear.

How do I know if I was affected?

It is not clear whether the United Nations reached out to affected users in the aftermath of the breach. If you believe your credentials may have been compromised in this incident, you can visit HaveIBeenPwned to check if your email has been involved in any data breaches.

What should affected users do?

In general, affected users should:

  1. Change Your Passwords: Immediately update your passwords for any accounts that may have been compromised. Make sure the new passwords are strong and unique, not previously used on any other platform.

  2. Reset Passwords for Other Accounts: If you've used the same or similar passwords for other online accounts, reset those as well. This is crucial as attackers often try using stolen passwords on multiple sites.

  3. Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): Activate 2FA on any affected accounts. Consider enabling this additional security feature on all other important online accounts to significantly reduce the risk of unauthorized access.

For more specific help and instructions related to the United Nations data breach, please contact United Nations support directly.

Where can I go to learn more?

If you want to find more information on the United Nations data breach, check out the following news articles:

Rapidly implement a modern Zero Trust network that is more secure and maintainable than VPNs.

United Nations Data Breach: What & How It Happened?

Twingate Team

Jun 22, 2024

In early 2021, the United Nations experienced a data breach, with hackers accessing the organization's computer network. The breach resulted from an employee login obtained from the dark web, leading to ongoing attacks on various branches of the UN. The attackers targeted multiple accounts for reconnaissance and further attacks. Additionally, in April 2024, a separate ransomware attack targeted the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), leading to data theft and affecting local IT infrastructure in UN City, Copenhagen.

How many accounts were compromised?

The breach impacted at least 53 accounts within the United Nations network.

What data was leaked?

The data exposed in the breach included invoices, receipts, accounting documents, certificates, confidential agreements, employment contracts, and personal information.

How was United Nations hacked?

Hackers breached the United Nations' network by obtaining employee login credentials from the dark web and targeting the Umoja system, the UN's proprietary project management software. The attackers gained extensive access to the network and conducted reconnaissance for long-term intelligence gathering. The exact methods and any potential malware involved remain unclear.

United Nations's solution

In response to the hack, the United Nations implemented corrective actions and enhanced security measures to protect its systems and prevent future incidents. This included migrating the Umoja system to Microsoft Corp.'s Azure, which provides multifactor authentication, strengthening security against breaches. The UN also worked with cybersecurity company Resecurity, which informed the organization of the breach early in 2021. Details regarding the removal of malware, backdoors, and notifications to affected individuals remain unclear.

How do I know if I was affected?

It is not clear whether the United Nations reached out to affected users in the aftermath of the breach. If you believe your credentials may have been compromised in this incident, you can visit HaveIBeenPwned to check if your email has been involved in any data breaches.

What should affected users do?

In general, affected users should:

  1. Change Your Passwords: Immediately update your passwords for any accounts that may have been compromised. Make sure the new passwords are strong and unique, not previously used on any other platform.

  2. Reset Passwords for Other Accounts: If you've used the same or similar passwords for other online accounts, reset those as well. This is crucial as attackers often try using stolen passwords on multiple sites.

  3. Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): Activate 2FA on any affected accounts. Consider enabling this additional security feature on all other important online accounts to significantly reduce the risk of unauthorized access.

For more specific help and instructions related to the United Nations data breach, please contact United Nations support directly.

Where can I go to learn more?

If you want to find more information on the United Nations data breach, check out the following news articles: