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Hackers have targeted the central data system for 40 French museums, unleashing a network-wide ransomware attack on the country's culture sector
Tom Anstey | Planet Attractions | 07 Aug 2024
More than 40 French museums have been affected by the attack
Data systems used by around 40 museums in France have been hit by a ransomware attack.
Targeting institutions such as the Grand Palais in Paris, the attack - which involves hacking into computer systems and demanding money in exchange for unblocking them - was detected on Sunday and announced by the prosecutor’s office on Tuesday.
According to reports, the unknown attackers have demanded a ransom and threatened to release financial data from the Réunion des Musées Nationaux network if their demands are not met.
With Paris currently hosting the Olympic Games, authorities in the capital have said that the attack has caused no disruption to the event itself. Some cultural institutions in Paris are hosting competitions, with the Grand Palais hosting the fencing and taekwondo events, while the Château de Versailles is home to equestrian sports and the modern pentathlon.
The Grand Palais has confirmed it has been affected by the cyber attack, but has not provided details as to the extent of the invasive action.
“To date, no data extraction has been detected,” the Grand Palais-RMN said in a statement, adding its technical teams are “fully mobilised” to fix the incident “as best as possible.”
The Louvre, meanwhile, says it has not been hit by the attack.
According to reports, the Paris prosecutor’s office has assigned the investigation to the Brigade for Combating Cybercrime to determine the extent and perpetrators of the attack. Authorities say efforts are ongoing to secure and restore affected systems.
Museums and galleries
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