The Grand Palais host of Olympic events among 40 museums in Paris hit by ransomware
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The Grand Palais in Paris, along with approximately 40 other French museums, fell victim to a ransomware attack over the weekend of 3rd and 4th of August 2024, as reported by police sources on August 5.
The system targeted by the attack is used to centralize financial data for brands at various institutions. The cybercriminals demand a ransom and threaten to release the stolen financial data if their demands are not met.
France’s national cybersecurity agency, ANSSI, acknowledged the incident but clarified that the compromised systems were not related to the Olympic Games. The Grand Palais, which is currently serving as a venue for fencing and martial arts during the Olympics, confirmed the cyberattack but did not disclose further details. The Louvre, initially mentioned as a potential target, denied being affected by the hacking.
No details are disclosed about stolen data or affected individuals.
A criminal investigation has been launched to address the data system attacks and the extortion by an organized gang. Ransomware attacks typically involve hackers seizing control of computer systems and demanding payment to restore acces.
Update - As of 30th of August 2024, the ransomware group Brain Cipher have taken responsibility for the attack. The group announced they will leak 300 GB of stolen data. A countdown has been posted to indicate the leak will take place at 20:00 UTC.
