Hackers Hit Paris Olympics Venue, French Museums, Demand Crypto Ransom

Key Insights:

•  Hackers demand a cryptocurrency ransom after targeting the Grand Palais and 40 other French tourist sites.
• The French Anti-Cybercrime Brigade is investigating the attack, with no impact on the Paris 2024 Olympics programming.
•  The cyberattack is part of a rising trend of ransomware incidents targeting high-profile venues and organizations.

Hackers launched a cyberattack on a Paris 2024 Olympics venue and dozens of museum shops across France, demanding a ransom in cryptocurrency. The attack, reported by Le Parisien, targeted the Grand Palais museum, set to host martial arts and fencing events during the Olympics, as well as 40 other tourist venues.

Data Breach and Ransom Demand

The cybercriminals exploited the data processing systems of the targeted sites over the weekend, gathering sensitive financial data. They have threatened to release this information unless a ransom is paid. The exact amount and the type of cryptocurrency demanded remain undisclosed. 

The French Anti-Cybercrime Brigade (BL2C) has initiated an investigation into the attack and ransom request. The Grand Palais and other affected sites have yet to comment on the situation. Despite the breach, the Paris Olympics programming remains unaffected, and the museum shops are operating as usual.

Previous Incidents Highlight Rising Threat

This incident is part of a growing trend of cyberattacks on high-profile targets. Last fall, Caesars Entertainment paid $15 million to hackers after a ransomware attack. Similarly, earlier this year, several prominent museums, including the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, experienced system outages due to cyberattacks.

The attack was detected on the night of August 3-4, 2024, when the Grand Palais’ director of information systems noticed unusual activity. The hackers used ransomware to encrypt data, making it unreadable. They are demanding a ransom for the decryption key and threatening to release the data if their demands are not met.

Security Measures and Investigation

The French National Agency for the Security of Information Systems (ANSSI), responsible for the cybersecurity of the Olympic Games, is involved in the investigation. ANSSI has confirmed that the incident does not affect the information systems essential to the Olympic and Paralympic Games operations.

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