France's national postal service, La Poste, has been hit by a suspected cyber-attack, disrupting its websites, apps, and banking services at the busiest time of the year. The distributed denial of service (DDoS) incident, confirmed on Monday, three days before Christmas, has slowed mail and parcel deliveries and hampered online payments and transfers.
La Poste stated that customer data remains safe, but the attack has rendered online services inaccessible. French media reported that customers attempting to send last-minute parcels or collect items from post offices were turned away. The postal service typically sorts and delivers over 2 million items in the lead-up to Christmas.
La Banque Postale, the group's banking arm, said on social media that the incident is affecting access to online banking and its mobile app. However, card payments at point-of-sale terminals and ATMs are still functioning. Online payments remain possible but require authentication via text message. The bank said its teams are mobilised to resolve the situation quickly. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack.
The incident follows a recent cyber-attack on the French government that disrupted the interior ministry. A 22-year-old suspect was detained in connection with that attack, which involved the extraction of sensitive files and access to police records. Anonymous hackers claimed to have accessed nearly 70 million confidential data records from police files, affecting 16.4 million French citizens.
Private companies, including mobile operator SFR and DIY chain Leroy Merlin, have also been targeted in recent weeks. Additionally, French prosecutors are investigating a suspected cyber-attack plot involving software that could remotely control computer systems of an international passenger ferry. A Latvian crew member is in custody, accused of acting for an unidentified foreign power. France and other European allies of Ukraine allege that Russia is waging 'hybrid warfare,' including cyber-attacks.
