European Commission investigates Data Breach of Staff

The European Commission has come under the spotlight in recent days after reports emerged that it had fallen victim to a cybersecurity breach involving employee-related data. The incident has drawn widespread media attention, raising concerns about data protection and institutional cybersecurity at one of the European Union’s most prominent bodies.

According to initial reports, hackers may have gained unauthorized access to the European Commission’s mobile device management platform, potentially exposing personal information belonging to its staff.

In response to the incident, the Commission established an internal investigation committee late last week. The committee has been tasked with determining the scope of the breach, identifying the method of attack, and assessing whether any sensitive information was compromised or misused.

Preliminary findings suggest that the attackers exploited vulnerabilities in Ivanti Endpoint Manager Mobile software. The cyberattack is believed to have occurred on January 20, 2026, although the breach was only officially identified toward the end of last month. Investigators are currently examining whether known security flaws in the software were leveraged and whether appropriate patches had been applied at the time of the incident.

The compromised data reportedly includes staff names, phone numbers, and limited additional details. However, sources familiar with the investigation have indicated that no highly sensitive information—such as passwords, financial data, or classified communications—was accessed.

Furthermore, there is currently no evidence to suggest that the stolen data has been published online or exploited for malicious purposes. And the incident response teams were quick enough to mitigate the risks associated with the cyber-attack and remediate security measures on immediate effect.

The timing of the data breach has drawn particular attention, as it occurred shortly after the European Commission introduced new legislation aimed at strengthening the protection of critical infrastructure across the European Union. Released in the third week of January, the legislation was designed to improve resilience against state-sponsored cyberattacks and criminal hacking operations. The incident has therefore sparked debate over the challenges of implementing cybersecurity measures even within institutions responsible for shaping digital policy.

Cybersecurity experts note that attacks on mobile device management systems are especially concerning, as such platforms often serve as centralized access points for employee data. While the Commission has not disclosed technical details beyond the software involved, it has stated that additional security measures are being implemented and that cooperation with cybersecurity authorities is ongoing.

As the investigation continues, the European Commission has emphasized its commitment to transparency and data protection. Further updates are expected once the inquiry is completed and the full extent of the breach is confirmed.