A sensational cyberattack has rocked Spanish politics. Once again, sensitive personal data of high-profile public figures, including Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, has been illegally published. This marks the third data leak within just a few days, prompting an intensive investigation by the Spanish National Police. The revelation raises serious questions about cybersecurity and the protection of personal data in Spain.
The Third Leak: What Was Revealed About Pedro Sánchez?
As reported by Cadena SER and confirmed by police sources to EFE, cybercriminals have published detailed information about Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. This includes his national identification document (DNI), his date of birth, and his private home address. Fortunately, his mobile phone number was not disclosed. This targeted approach against the head of government underscores the audacity and extensive capabilities of the hackers.
Other Prominent Victims of the Cybercriminals
The hackers did not limit themselves to the Prime Minister. According to SER, the leaked document also contains sensitive information about the President of the autonomous community of Andalusia, Juanma Moreno, the President of Extremadura, María Guardiola, and the former Mayor of Barcelona, Ada Colau. Particularly concerning is the fact that data from approximately 3,000 Podemos members was leaked to gain access to their private website. This suggests a broader campaign of destabilization and data misuse.
Comprehensive Investigations by the National Court
The judge of the National Court, Francisco de Jorge, has already initiated comprehensive investigations. A second leak of personal data, disseminated via a Telegram channel and affecting several ministers, the President of Congress, Francina Armengol, and the President of the Generalitat of Catalonia, Salvador Illa, has been integrated into the ongoing inquiries. Individuals involved in the so-called “Koldo case” are also affected.
Legal sources confirmed to EFE that this second leak has been included in the investigation that was launched last week concerning an initial data dissemination. This previous leak affected, among others, Vice President María Jesús Montero, Ministers Fernando Grande-Marlaska, Óscar Puente, Luis Planas, Diana Morant, Ana Redondo, and Elma Saiz, as well as former PP leaders such as María Dolores de Cospedal and Rafael Catalá. The judge has ordered the investigation to be kept secret to avoid jeopardizing its success.
Chronology of Attacks: A Worrying Development
The first release of sensitive data occurred on Thursday, June 19, via a Telegram channel with over 92,000 followers. A user published the data in the early morning hours under a pseudonym, and an hour later, it was re-published by another user. The second security breach occurred on Saturday afternoon and included personal data such as ID card numbers, mobile phone numbers, email addresses, and even home addresses of figures like Vice President Yolanda Díaz, Minister Félix Bolaños, the President of Congress, Francina Armengol, the Catalan President Salvador Illa, or the leader of Podemos, Ione Belarra.
Among the other affected individuals are journalists, as well as former PSOE official Santos Cerdán, former minister José Luis Ábalos, his former advisor Koldo García, and businessman Víctor de Aldama – all four indicted before the Supreme Court in connection with the “Koldo case.” The dissemination of personal data of approximately 300 socialist activists is also currently under investigation.
This series of cyberattacks underscores the growing threat of data breaches and the need for more robust security measures to ensure the privacy and security of individuals and public officials alike.
