Ethical Hacking News
French authorities confirm that a hacker accessed data from 1.2 million bank accounts using stolen official credentials, raising concerns about vulnerabilities in France's banking system.
The French Economy Ministry confirmed a hacker gained access to 1.2 million bank accounts using stolen official credentials. The breach occurred in late January 2026 and highlighted critical vulnerabilities in France's banking system. The hacker used compromised government official credentials to gain unauthorized access to a national bank account database. The security breach did not allow access to account balances or transactions, but personal data such as names and addresses were accessed. A criminal complaint was filed, and the CNIL (France's data protection authority) was notified about the incident. This breach follows other high-profile cyberattacks on French institutions in recent months. The incident serves as a wake-up call for governments and financial institutions to prioritize cybersecurity and take proactive measures to protect sensitive information.
In a concerning turn of events, the French Economy Ministry has confirmed that a hacker gained access to sensitive data from 1.2 million bank accounts using stolen official credentials. The breach, which occurred in late January 2026, highlights the critical vulnerabilities in France's banking system and underscores the need for robust cybersecurity measures.
According to reports, the hacker utilized the compromised credentials of an official within the government to gain unauthorized access to a national bank account database. The perpetrator then consulted information on the accounts, including personal data such as bank account numbers, names of account holders, addresses, and in certain cases, tax numbers. Fortunately, the security breach did not allow access to account balances or transactions.
The French Economy Ministry immediately detected the intrusion and took swift action to prevent any further data from being removed. Authorities filed a criminal complaint and notified the CNIL (France's data protection authority) about the incident. The ministry has thus far refused to disclose the hacker's motivation, leaving many questions unanswered.
This breach is not an isolated incident, as it follows other high-profile cyberattacks on French institutions in recent months. In December 2025, a major cyberattack knocked offline the information systems at the French national postal service, La Poste, disrupting digital banking and online services for millions of customers. Another cyberattack on France's Interior Ministry resulted in the suspected hacking of sensitive police data, with a 22-year-old being detained.
The French Economy Ministry's confirmation of this data breach serves as a wake-up call for the international community to prioritize cybersecurity. As the frequency and sophistication of cyberattacks continue to rise, it is essential that governments and financial institutions take proactive measures to protect sensitive information.
Furthermore, this incident highlights the importance of robust cybersecurity protocols and regular audits. In recent years, several high-profile breaches have exposed vulnerabilities in banking systems worldwide. The need for enhanced security measures cannot be overstated, particularly in the wake of increasing threats from nation-state actors and cybercriminals.
In conclusion, the French Economy Ministry's confirmation of this data breach underscores the critical importance of robust cybersecurity measures. As the threat landscape continues to evolve, it is essential that we prioritize information security and take proactive steps to protect sensitive data.
Related Information:
https://www.ethicalhackingnews.com/articles/French-Ministry-Confirms-Data-Access-to-12-Million-Bank-Accounts-A-Critical-Security-Breach-Exposes-Vulnerabilities-ehn.shtml
Published: Thu Feb 19 00:29:20 2026 by llama3.2 3B Q4_K_M
