French government services have been hit by cyberattacks of “unprecedented intensity,” according to reports from multiple media sources. Prime Minister Gabriel Attal’s office announced on March 11 that despite the severity of these cyberattacks on France, the government has succeeded in containing their impact.
The Prime Minister’s office revealed that several ministerial services were targeted starting earlier this month, employing familiar technical methods but with an intensity never witnessed before. However, precise details regarding the specific targets were not disclosed.
Cyberattacks on France: States and Government Bodies Compromised
In response to the cyberattack on the French state, a dedicated “crisis cell” has been activated to deploy countermeasures, resulting in a reduction of the attacks’ impact on most services and the restoration of access to state websites.
Specialist agencies, including the National Cybersecurity Agency of France (ANSSI), have been swiftly implementing filtering measures to combat the ongoing attacks effectively.
However, it seems a lot of the websites related to French power, military, economy and other critical infrastructures are down or not available at the moment.
Amidst the cyberattacks, Anonymous Sudan, a prolific hacker group, has taken responsibility for these cyberattack on the French State, stating, “We have conducted a massive cyber-attack on the infrastructure of the French Interministerial Directorate of Digital Affairs French. Their infrastructure includes more than 17,000 IPs and devices as well as over 300+ domains that have all been knocked down strongly.”
The authenticity of these claims could not be verified, however, Anonymous Sudan claims to have launched a DDoS attack campaign on France in its latest dark web post.
Cyberattacks on the French State and other Connection
Notably, Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu had previously emphasized the need to bolster protection against sabotage and cyber threats, particularly from Russia, highlighting the seriousness of the situation.
In a press release shared by the French Prime Minister’s Office, the Prime Minister Gabriel Attal denoted, “Many ministerial services were targeted using familiar technical means but of unprecedented intensity. A crisis cell has been activated to deploy countermeasures, meaning the impact of these attacks has been reduced for most services and access to state websites restored.”
The timing of these cyberattacks on France raises concerns, especially following recent warnings from defense advisers regarding potential threats during major events such as the Paris Olympics and the upcoming European Parliament elections.
Moreover, France ranks among the top ten countries globally for cybersecurity preparedness, according to the National Cyber Security Index and the Global Cybersecurity Index.
However, a 2022 study by Ipsos and Sopra Steria shows high concern among French citizens about cyber threats. Despite legislative efforts, cyberattacks remain common, with notable incidents like the National Assembly website’s breach.
French businesses allocate 10.7% of their IT budget for security, below the global average, and lag in adopting cloud-based security solutions. New laws require prompt reporting of cyber incidents and establish specialized police units. The Network and Information Systems Security Act of 2018 mandates cybersecurity measures for essential services and digital providers.
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