European Central Bank in database security breach

The European Central Bank says contact data have been stolen from a database that serves its public website, though it’s stressing that no internal systems or market-sensitive data were compromised.

The Frankfurt-based central bank for the 18 nations that share the euro said Thursday the security breach involved a database serving part of the website that gathers registrations for ECB events. It says email addresses and other contact data left by people who registered were stolen.

The ECB said it discovered the theft when it received an anonymous email seeking money for the data. It said it informed German police and an investigation has started.

The bank says the targeted database is physically separate from its internal systems. It’s contacting people whose data might have been compromised.

Associated Press