A significant hacking operation targeting Orange SA, a French telecommunications firm, was executed by a group known as Warlock. Earlier this month, approximately four gigabytes of stolen data surfaced on the dark web, although the breach occurred in July.
In August, Orange had alerted relevant authorities about the attack before details emerged online. The company confirmed the data leak but declined to comment on the hacker group or any businesses impacted by the breach.
Orange has stated that the leaked data consists primarily of “outdated or low-sensitivity” information, reassuring users that there is no cause for alarm. The company also indicated that the hackers primarily sought to extort money through ransomware but only gained limited access to Orange’s systems.
This incident marks yet another data breach for Orange, with its Belgian division falling victim to a hack in the same month, where the personal data of 850,000 customers was compromised. Altogether, this incident represents the fourth major hacking incident affecting Orange within this calendar year.
Orange is a very lucrative target for hackers. | Image credit — Bloomberg
Telecommunications companies are inherently attractive targets for cybercriminals like Warlock, as customer data holds significant value and presents lucrative ransom opportunities. However, some breaches tend to stem from geopolitical motives. For instance, a recent attack attributed to a Chinese hacker group, Salt Typhoon, infiltrated U.S. telecom firms, capturing text and call logs of government officials involved in national security operations.
There are assertions that this attack by Salt Typhoon was orchestrated by the Chinese government, a claim that Chinese officials have denied. At the same time, T-Mobile reported unusual activity within its network during that period but successfully mitigated the threat before any unauthorized access occurred.
Meanwhile, AT&T has begun notifying customers affected by a previous data breach regarding their settlement compensation. Such sophisticated cyber-attacks are likely to continue, posing ongoing risks for telecommunication entities and consumer data alike.
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