Red Cross data breach leaks information about 550,000 blood donors

The personal information of more than half a million blood donors has been accessed after being accidentally made publicly accessible on a website, the Red Cross has said.

Human error from a third party who developed the Red Cross website led to a file containing the data of 550,000 people being placed in an insecure part of a website, Red Cross CEO Shelly Park said at a press conference today.

"We want to apologise unreservedly," Ms Park said.

"We are so sorry we have disappointed you."

No financial information was compromised but the Red Cross said the information could make blood donors more susceptible to email and phone scams.

Included in the leak was blood donors' names, addresses and certain health data, but not test results or details of their medical history.

"We've been told there is very low risk of future misuse," Ms Park said.

"We are doing absolutely everything in our power to right this."

Red Cross was first made aware of the security breach on Wednesday.