Hackers Steal 740,000 Records from UK Education Department and Police Database

ExfilSquad hacks UK databases, stealing 740k records from DfE and PNLD, demanding ransom for stolen data.

Jul 30, 2026

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A previously unknown hacking gang called ExfilSquad has stolen over 740,000 records from the UK Department for Education and the Police National Legal Database. The breach exposed names, email addresses, phone numbers, and job titles of government officials, school leaders, university staff, and police officers.

Around 600,000 records came from the DfE's help-desk portal, with a smaller batch from its Turing student exchange program. The PNLD breach added roughly 135,000 records, including stolen passwords. The gang is demanding payment from 14 alleged victims, threatening to publish all data if ignored. Authorities say the risk is currently low.

Source: The Guardian

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