France fending off large scale cyberattacks, Russia-backed Sudanese hackers claim responsibility

The French government made an announcement on Monday that it is fending off large-scale cyberattacks on its internet services and several government services. Officials in France have described the scale of these attacks as having “unprecedented intensity.”

Furthermore, the attacks have forced the French government to activate a special crisis centre to restore online services, a report from the Associated Press claims.

According to a statement from Prime Minister Gabriel Attal’s office, the attacks started on Sunday night, affecting multiple government ministries. However, specific details regarding the targets were not disclosed.

By Monday afternoon, the impact of the attacks had been mitigated for most services, and access to government websites had been restored.

Anonymous Sudan, a group of hackers believed to have pro-Russia affiliations according to cybersecurity experts, claimed responsibility for the attacks in online posts. However, neither the French prime minister’s office nor the digital safety agency commented on the claim or provided details regarding the extent of the damage caused.

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A French official stated that the attacks were denial-of-service attacks, a common cyberattack method aimed at overwhelming a website with data to render it inaccessible.

The French government has been actively enhancing its cyber defences in preparation for the Paris Olympics this summer, following previous ransomware attacks, including those targeting hospitals in 2021.

Tensions between Russia and the West, exacerbated by the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, have reached a critical point, with Russian President Vladimir Putin warning of the risks of direct confrontation between NATO and Russia. The French government has accused Russia of conducting a sustained online manipulation campaign against Ukraine’s Western supporters, including tactics such as mirroring the French Foreign Ministry website.

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French President Emmanuel Macron has taken a firm stance against Moscow and the war initiated by Putin in Ukraine. Macron emphasized the importance of defeating Russia in Ukraine for Europe’s security during a speech in Paris. He announced the formation of a coalition to provide Ukraine with medium- and long-range missiles and bombs, highlighting the urgency of the situation. While Macron noted that there was no consensus on deploying Western troops to Ukraine, he emphasized that all options should be considered.

(With inputs from the agency)