One in two French people’s data was stolen in a major cybersecurity breach - the largest ever in France - leaving 33 million at risk.
One in two French people’s data was stolen in a major cybersecurity breach - the largest ever in France - leaving 33 million at risk.
Over 33 million people in France - nearly half of its population - have been impacted by the country’s biggest-ever cyberattack.
Two French service providers for medical insurance companies were targeted, with the companies admitting that millions of people’s data were potentially exposed to the hackers.
"This is the first time there has been a breach on such a scale," Yann Padova, a lawyer specialising in digital data protection and former Secretary General of the French data protection authority (CNIL) told French broadcaster Franceinfo on Thursday.
As a french person this is great because I had (and really still have) no idea that my data was being shared with one of these intermediaries. I am also unable to decide to stop interacting with them, as I don't know which one my insurance provider uses, and I am unable to choose the insurance provider my work uses. Fun times. Good news is that the data leaked is bad, but stuff like "your social security number" is not as important in France as it is in the US. Still important, but it's not an all-in-one identifier for everything, we have id cards for that :)
According to the first provider, Viamedis, the hackers phished and used health professionals' logins to get into the system.
Almerys said that the hackers had not breached its central system but had accessed a portal used by health professionals
WTF so people with logins could access millions of records with no oversight?
ARTHUR: It is King Arthur, and these are my Knights of the Round Table. Whose castle is this?
FRENCH GUARD: This is the castle of my master, Guy de Loimbard.
ARTHUR: Go and tell your master that we have been charged by God with a sacred quest. If he will give us food and shelter for the night, he can join us in our quest for the Holy Grail.
FRENCH GUARD: Well, I'll ask him, but I don't think he'll be very keen. Uh, he's already got one, you see.
ARTHUR: What?
GALAHAD: He says they've already got one!
ARTHUR: Are you sure he's got one?
FRENCH GUARD: Oh, yes. It's very nice-a. (I told him we already got one.)
FRENCH GUARDS: [chuckling]
ARTHUR: Well, u-- um, can we come up and have a look?
FRENCH GUARD: Of course not! You are English types-a!
ARTHUR: Well, what are you, then?
FRENCH GUARD: I'm French! Why do think I have this outrageous accent, you silly king-a?!
GALAHAD: What are you doing in England?
FRENCH GUARD: Mind your own business!
ARTHUR: If you will not show us the Grail, we shall take your castle by force!
FRENCH GUARD: You don't frighten us, English pig-dogs! Go and boil your bottom, sons of a silly person. I blow my nose at you, so-called Arthur King, you and all your silly English k-nnnnniggets. Thpppppt! Thppt! Thppt!
GALAHAD: What a strange person.
ARTHUR: Now look here, my good man--
FRENCH GUARD: I don't wanna talk to you no more, you empty headed animal food trough wiper! I fart in your general direction! Your mother was a hamster and your father smelt of elderberries!
GALAHAD: Is there someone else up there we could talk to?
FRENCH GUARD: No. Now, go away, or I shall taunt you a second time-a!
One in two French people’s data was stolen in a major cybersecurity breach - the largest ever in France - leaving 33 million at risk.
"This is the first time there has been a breach on such a scale," Yann Padova, a lawyer specialising in digital data protection and former Secretary General of the French data protection authority (CNIL) told French broadcaster Franceinfo on Thursday.
Over 33 million people - just under half of the French population - were affected by the data leak, which included details like "the marital status, date of birth and social security number, the name of the health insurer and the cover provided by the policy" of the individuals impacted, according to the French data protection authority (CNIL).
The CNIL assured that "no bank details, medical data, postal address, telephone number or e-mail are involved".
Users should be especially careful to double-check the authenticity of emails, texts, and calls claiming to be from official organisations.
The people whose data were compromised will be contacted to be individually informed by their health insurance to comply with GDPR guidelines.
The original article contains 393 words, the summary contains 182 words. Saved 54%. I'm a bot and I'm open source!