BERLIN – Authorities in Liechtenstein say a cyberattack exposed data linked to about 31,000 people listed in the wealthy principality’s register identifying the individuals behind companies and foundations.
The government said the country’s “register of economic beneficiaries” was accessed overnight from Wednesday into Thursday last week. Officials detected the breach on Thursday, moved to protect the affected data and took the system offline as a precaution.
According to the government, investigators have so far found no evidence that any information in the database was changed or erased.
The registry, which identifies beneficial owners connected to companies, foundations and trusteeships, is a key tool in Liechtenstein’s efforts to fight money laundering and the financing of terrorism.
Liechtenstein, a small Alpine country of roughly 40,000 residents situated between Switzerland and Austria, relies heavily on its financial services sector, which plays a central role in the national economy.
In response to the incident, the government established a crisis team over the weekend to examine how the attack occurred and coordinate the investigation.
