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LowBreach / campaignMonitoring

Tajani claims his data leaked on dark web, Meloni blames pro-Russian hackers

Italian Foreign Minister Tajani claims his personal data was spread on the dark web; follow official Italian updates as no fix is sourced.

Published
Updated
Exploitation
No, the source describes no software vulnerability or exploitation, only Tajani’s statement that his personal data was disseminated

What happened

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani claims his personal data has been disseminated on the dark web. He says he and his family have been exposed to “threats and intimidation.” This is according to an AP report carried by Mint.

Mint reports that Tajani made the statement in a social media post on a Saturday. Mint published its report on 2026-11-07.

According to Mint, Tajani said that “for days, cybercriminals have been spreading my personal data on the dark web and seeking other information.” He also said the criminals “are prepared to pay for other details on me and my loved ones” (Mint).

In a separate statement, Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni blamed pro-Russian hackers. According to Mint, she expressed solidarity with Tajani “following the revelations about the activities of pro-Russian hackers, and the publication on the dark web of personal data.” She called attempts to sell confidential information about government officials “a matter of grave concern.”

Mint reports that Tajani did not say who might be responsible. He also did not specify what kind of information had been shared, but he suggested the threat was ongoing (Mint).

The source does not confirm any of the following:

  • the type and volume of data
  • how the data was obtained
  • which system, if any, was compromised
  • the identity of the group responsible
  • any specific leak site or listing

The attribution to pro-Russian hackers comes from Meloni’s statement. The source reports no independent technical verification.

Am I affected?

The source names only Tajani as affected, and by his account, his family. It does not name any product, service, software or other victim. Whether any organisation’s systems were involved is not confirmed.

What to do now

  1. Treat the attribution and the scope of the leak as unverified claims until official sources publish details.
  2. Follow statements from the Italian government for any confirmed information on the data involved or how it was obtained.
  3. The source publishes no patch, CVE or technical indicator, so there is no specific fix to apply.

Update, 8 November 2026

  • Tert.am reports that Tajani said he was being targeted by hackers over Italy’s support for Ukraine, writing that “Our stance on Ukraine is the political reason why I have been targeted.” (tert.am)
  • Tert.am quotes Meloni as saying the sale of confidential information concerning public officials “must be tackled with the utmost determination.” (tert.am)
  • In the same article, Tert.am reports that BBT SE, the company behind the Brenner Base Tunnel project, separately confirmed a cyberattack that it said occurred on 17 October, and the attack reportedly involved non-public data stolen through access to the company’s internet-connected network. (tert.am)
  • The420.in reports that Italy’s Foreign Ministry confirmed on Saturday, 7 November, that cybersecurity officials had detected the circulation of Tajani’s personal data. (the420.in)
  • According to the Italian Foreign Ministry, as reported by The420.in, the data was found circulating in a section of the dark web accessible through the Tor network. (the420.in)
  • The420.in says Reuters reported seeing screenshots that placed Tajani among 18 individuals described as hostile to the Russian Federation, a list that reportedly included cybersecurity professionals and whose compilers have not been conclusively identified. (the420.in)
  • The420.in reports that Tajani asked for hybrid and cyber threats to be discussed at the G7 foreign ministers’ meeting in Paris on 9 and 10 November. (the420.in)
  • The420.in reports that Tajani expressed solidarity with Rome prosecutor Francesco Lo Voi, postal police director Ivano Gabrielli and mayor Paolo Tassan-Zanin, who have reportedly faced similar threats. (the420.in)
  • The420.in reports that in February 2026 Italian officials reported cyberattacks against websites associated with the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics and diplomatic services, which Tajani attributed to pro-Russian hackers, although the technical circumstances differed from the latest personal data leak. (the420.in)
  • The420.in reports that Italy’s Foreign Ministry established a dedicated cyber directorate on 1 January 2026 to improve protection against digital intrusions. (the420.in)
  • The420.in says authorities have not confirmed that the disclosure resulted in identity theft, financial fraud or unauthorised access to diplomatic communications. (the420.in)

Update, 9 November 2026

  • Tert.am reports that BBT SE said it quickly activated its cyber security protocols after the 17 October incident, immediately isolating the affected systems and enlisting external cyber security specialists to carry out forensic analysis. (tert.am)
  • The AP says Tajani made his announcement on social media after a string of hoax bomb threats across Europe that caused flight diversions, security threats against broadcasters, recent attacks on supermarket refrigeration systems and drone incursions. (securityweek.com)
  • The420.in says investigators have not established whether Tajani’s data came from a compromised account, an institutional breach or information collected by other means. (the420.in)

Sources