Russia’s Cyber Assaults on France: A Growing Concern
On Tuesday, France officially accused Russian military intelligence of being behind a series of cyberattacks targeting the nation over the last decade. These cyber incursions included attacks on organizations linked to the upcoming 2024 Paris Olympics and Emmanuel Macron’s presidential campaign during its inaugural run in 2017. France’s foreign ministry revealed that since 2021, Russian military intelligence, particularly a branch known for such activities, has targeted approximately a dozen French entities spanning sectors like defense, finance, and the economy.
The French government has made it clear that it strongly condemns the actions of the APT28 attack group, which is under the auspices of Russia’s GRU. The foreign ministry highlighted, “France strongly condemns the use of the APT28 attack group by Russia’s military intelligence service, which is responsible for multiple cyberattacks on French interests.” Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot took to social media platform X to emphasize this attribution of responsibility, making it the first formal acknowledgment of the GRU’s involvement in these cyber offenses.
APT28: The Cyber Threat Behind Major Attacks
APT28, also known by its moniker Fancy Bear, has a notorious history of engaging in significant global cyberattacks. Notably, this group was implicated in the 2016 U.S. presidential election, where it was accused of assisting Donald Trump by leaking sensitive emails from the Democratic Party and Hillary Clinton’s campaign. Their modus operandi often involves targeting personal email accounts to steal data or infiltrate networks across various devices. In a bold move in 2017, hackers aligned with APT28 infiltrated Macron’s initial presidential campaign, releasing thousands of confidential documents just a day before the election.
The French foreign ministry stated, “In 2017, during the presidential election, APT28 engaged in a large-scale hacking operation” intended to disrupt public trust and influence voter perceptions. This operation resulted in the theft and dissemination of thousands of documents, albeit the leaked materials did not have a significant impact on the election outcome, as Macron eventually triumphed over far-right opponent Marine Le Pen in the decisive second round.
Targeted Sectors: A Broader Implication of Cyberattacks
According to the foreign ministry, the cyberattacks since 2021 have focused on entities critical to the daily life of French citizens. These include public services and private businesses, as well as organizations tied to the sporting events of the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The scope of these attacks suggests a coordinated strategy to sow disruption and fear among essential services and operations in France.
In a related development, several international intelligence agencies, including those from Germany, raised concerns about potential cyber threats aimed at NATO member countries, indicating that Fancy Bear’s activities are far from localized. The French government asserted its commitment to collaborating with international partners to mitigate these risks, stating, “In conjunction with its partners, France is committed to employing all available measures to anticipate and deter Russia’s malicious activities in cyberspace, and to respond as necessary.”
