Cyber Attack Concerns Ahead Of French Elections

Ahead of France’s closely-watched presidential elections in the spring, senior officials, experts and political parties are worried about the risk of cyber-attacks. Many fear that hackers from Russia, in particular, could target political and other sites in a bid to influence the outcome of the election, which takes place over two rounds in April and May.

“Intelligence agencies are aware of risks and are now taking extra measures to be ready if any attacks happen,” Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian told French media outlets. “Last year my ministry has been targeted 24,000 times by hackers and there is no reason why these unknown hackers would not attack the elections.”

After allegations of cyber interference in the 2016 US election campaign, French authorities are urging political party members to take precautions online, to be aware of signs of cyber-attacks, and to take measures in response as quickly as possible. They strongly advise parties to train staffers or to hire experts.

“We can’t just act as if the problem does not exist,” Guillaume Poupard, head of the National Information System Security Agency, told the France 24 TV channel.

“The attackers who influenced the American election could try to do it again in France. We must be prepared. Even if we cannot be sure that they are absolutely the same people, there are attackers who regularly tap the door of our ministries.”

One of Poupard’s responsibilities during the election is to secure the count of ballots at polling stations, from where they will be sent, via regional prefectures, to the Ministry of Interior for the official tally.

Both the Republicans’ nominee, former Prime Minister François Fillon, and far-right candidate Marine Le Pen of the Front National (NF) have pledged if elected to improve relations with Moscow.

Still, it is no secret that French cyber experts and political parties are keeping a wary eye on Russia in particular. Both parties are advising members to be very careful when using the Internet, emails and online databases.

NF vice-president Florian Philippot said the party’s website is often attacked by hackers, adding that “we have considerably reinforced our digital protection, especially the one we use in our campaign.”

Fillon is leading in the opinion polls, running at 63 percent when pitted against Le Pen who would come second.

The Socialist party of President Francois Hollande – who is not himself a candidate – has yet to hold its primaries, although former Prime Minister Manuel Valls is thought most likely to be its nominee.

Hollande imposed sanctions on Russia over its 2014 annexation of Crimea, and the Socialist party says it is also aware of a potential threat.

“No political party can say that their systems are seriously secured,” said Socialist senator Sébastien Pietrasanta.

“Private companies are aware of the risks and threats because it can have a negative impact on their finances. But parties, in general, don’t think that cyber-attacks can really happen against them.”

Pietrasanta also pointed out that measures to secure networks can be very expensive for political parties.

While all parties recognise they may face intrusion attempts, the one targeted most obviously so far is a group founded by a former economy minister who resigned from the Socialist party to run as an independent and is rising in the polls.

The En Marche movement, led by Emmanuel Macron, admitted that its website and database had suffered a successful attack in recent weeks.

In April 2015, a powerful cyber-attack took the French television network TV5Monde off the air. A ISIS-linked group calling itself the Cyber Caliphate initially claimed responsibility, but investigators later concluded that the attack was carried out by a group of Russian hackers.

CNSNews:          Hackers Target France’s Presidential Election:  
 

« Electoral Influence: 40yrs Of Kremlin Interference
Populism & Terror Have Killed Geopolitics »

CyberSecurity Jobsite
Perimeter 81

Directory of Suppliers

NordLayer

NordLayer

NordLayer is an adaptive network access security solution for modern businesses — from the world’s most trusted cybersecurity brand, Nord Security. 

Resecurity, Inc.

Resecurity, Inc.

Resecurity is a cybersecurity company that delivers a unified platform for endpoint protection, risk management, and cyber threat intelligence.

The PC Support Group

The PC Support Group

A partnership with The PC Support Group delivers improved productivity, reduced costs and protects your business through exceptional IT, telecoms and cybersecurity services.

BackupVault

BackupVault

BackupVault is a leading provider of automatic cloud backup and critical data protection against ransomware, insider attacks and hackers for businesses and organisations worldwide.

North Infosec Testing (North IT)

North Infosec Testing (North IT)

North IT (North Infosec Testing) are an award-winning provider of web, software, and application penetration testing.

RIVA Solutions

RIVA Solutions

RIVA provides innovative best practices in IT and management consulting, program support services and emerging technologies.

SecurityMetrics

SecurityMetrics

SecurityMetrics is leader in data security, PCI, and HIPAA compliance solutions

Entersekt

Entersekt

Entersekt is an innovator in push-based authentication and app security.

SynerComm

SynerComm

SynerComm is an IT solution provider specializing in network and security infrastructure, enterprise mobility, remote access, wireless solutions, audit, pentesting and information assurance.

Securicon

Securicon

Securicon provides expert consulting for application, system and network security.

Learning Tree International

Learning Tree International

Learning Tree's comprehensive cyber security training curriculum includes specialised IT security training and general cyber security courses for all levels of your organisation including the C-suite.

360 Total Security

360 Total Security

360 company is the largest provider of Internet and mobile security products in China.

Veracity Industrial Networks

Veracity Industrial Networks

Veracity provides an innovative industrial network platform that improves the reliability, efficiency, and security of industrial networks and devices.

Microchip Technology

Microchip Technology

Microchip Technology Inc. is a leading provider of smart, connected and secure embedded control solutions.

ADGS

ADGS

ADGS is a deeptech company focused in the fields of Agent-Based simulations (Emergent Behavior), Cybersecurity and Biometrics, Social Dynamics, Natural Language Processing and Artificial Intelligence.

DoControl

DoControl

DoControl gives organizations the automated, self-service tools they need for SaaS applications data access monitoring, orchestration, and remediation.

BrainStorm

BrainStorm

BrainStorm Threat Defense takes a new human-focused approach to security awareness that traditional training lacks. It’s a cutting-edge platform to make your users more security savvy.

Lumifi

Lumifi

Lumifi provide end-to-end cybersecurity resilience solutions with a specialty in managed detection and response (MDR) services.

Bores Security Consultancy

Bores Security Consultancy

Bores Security Consultancy are an established family-run business delivering expertise in security and technology.

RSK Cyber Security

RSK Cyber Security

RSK Cyber Security are a leading cyber security services company that uses services, consulting, and product knowledge to lower security risk across the board.

Alchemy Security Consulting

Alchemy Security Consulting

Alchemy Security Consulting specialise in offensive and defensive cyber security. We find the weak link in your security so you can patch it up fast and avoid being hacked.