TLDR
- Nearly 40 well-known French destinations, including the Grand Palais, which is set for Olympic use, were hit by a cyberattack recently.
- Those responsible for the hack have threatened to disclose financial records unless a cryptocurrency ransom is paid.
- The cyber offensive hit the data management systems of museum outlets, but fortunately, has not disrupted the Olympics schedules.
- The incident has attracted the attention of the French Anti-Cybercrime Brigade (BL2C) which is currently examining the breach.
- France's information security authority, ANSSI, reassures the public that the Olympics' operational systems remain unaffected by this cyber incident.
A cyberattack A digital assault impacted around 40 French tourist attractions. The Grand Palais, a confirmed venue for the Paris 2024 Olympics, became the target of a cyberattack over the August 3-4 weekend, raising alarm over cybersecurity as the Games proceed.
Hackers tapped into museum shop databases across France, accessing sensitive financial data, with the Grand Palais, hosting Olympic martial arts, among those compromised.
Le Parisien revealed that the IT director at the Grand Palais detected the security breach on August 3, facing demands for a cryptocurrency ransom with a 48-hour threat to leak the financial info.
While the exact ransom and type of cryptocurrency demanded remain under wraps, there's no confirmation if the targeted institutions plan to comply.
French officials have responded by initiating an inquiry into the matter, with the French Anti-Cybercrime Brigade (BL2C) labeling it as a severe attack on data processing.
The French Agency for Information Systems Security (ANSSI) was quick to respond, assuring that the Olympic systems remain intact and safe from the attack.
Despite the data breach, museum operations continue without interruption, even though it was initially believed the Louvre might have been involved.
This is not the first cyber challenge the Paris Olympics has faced, as over 70 such threats have been thwarted recently, per the French Prime Minister’s statements.
Similar digital attacks in past years have also targeted the tourism and entertainment sectors, with notable incidents like Vegas-based Caesars opting to pay a hefty sum to resolve an attack.
Earlier this year, prominent U.S. museums like Boston's Museum of Fine Arts experienced system outages due to similar cyber intrusions.
