Cyber Attack Targets French Ministry of Sports, Exposing Data of 3.5 Million People

The French Ministry of Sports revealed on Friday that its systems were subjected to a cyber attack that led to the leakage of personal information of approximately 3.5 million individuals, in what is considered the second incident within days following a similar attack on the Ministry of the Interior.

Cyber Attack Continuation

The ministry clarified in an official statement that the attack on sports came after the government announced on Wednesday that the Ministry of the Interior had experienced the extraction of several dozen confidential records during a multi-day attack.

Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez described the attack as "very serious" during a questioning session in the National Assembly, confirming that urgent measures were being taken to enhance the ministry's cybersecurity.

Vulnerabilities and Exploitation

Nuñez explained that the security breach resulted from a weakness in "digital safety," where passwords were exchanged that allowed access to protected files through compromised professional messaging systems.

This breach enabled hackers to access very sensitive files, including criminal records and wanted persons, which are essential elements for the work of French security forces.

Level of Damage

Despite a group of hackers claiming responsibility for stealing data related to 16 million people, the minister confirmed that what has been leaked so far is limited to a few dozen records.

He added that the government immediately began implementing a series of measures to address vulnerabilities and enhance digital protection, amid warnings that the continuation of such attacks could expose vital French sectors to greater risk.

These incidents highlight the increasing challenges of cybersecurity in France, especially with government entities relying on digital systems, and underscore the need to strengthen preventive measures and update protection protocols to face ongoing electronic threats.