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Ransomware Group Brain Cipher Targets French Museums During Olympics

Ransomware group Brain Cipher targets French museums during Olympics, threatens to leak 300 GB of stolen data from RMN-GP’s financial systems.

 

The ransomware group Brain Cipher has claimed responsibility for a cyberattack on several French National Museums that took place during the Olympic Games earlier this month. The attack, which targeted institutions managed by the Réunion des Musées Nationaux – Grand Palais (RMN-GP), allegedly compromised 300 GB of data from a system used to centralize financial information. 

Despite the group’s threat to leak the stolen data, they have not yet revealed the nature of the information. The French Cybersecurity Agency (ANSSI) confirmed it was alerted to the attacks and promptly provided assistance to RMN-GP. ANSSI assured the public that the incident did not affect any systems related to the Olympic Games. Events like taekwondo and fencing, hosted by the RMN-GP, continued without disruption. RMN-GP also confirmed that there were no operational impacts, encrypted systems, or extracted data detected in connection with the attack. 

Nevertheless, the situation remains closely monitored as the countdown to the data leak continues on Brain Cipher’s blog, set to occur at 20:00 UTC. Brain Cipher is a relatively new ransomware group that first emerged in June 2023. Since then, the group has been linked to various cyberattacks targeting different sectors, including medical, educational, and manufacturing organizations, along with Indonesian government servers. Despite their activities, the group has attempted to maintain a controversial public image. 

In one case, they apologized for a cyberattack on Indonesian government servers, claiming they were acting as penetration testers rather than criminals. They even released a decryptor to restore the locked files without being pressured by the government, presenting themselves as ethical hackers or white-hat operators, although their actions and motives remain dubious. The data allegedly stolen from RMN-GP is believed to involve sensitive financial information, but no further details have been disclosed by Brain Cipher. 

The threat of releasing such a large volume of data has sparked concerns over potential exposure of confidential details, which could affect both the organization and the individuals associated with it. As the clock ticks down to the group’s proposed leak, questions are raised about the nature of the stolen data and the potential fallout from its exposure. Cyberattacks like this highlight the growing threat posed by ransomware groups to both public and private institutions worldwide. 

The incident also underscores the importance of robust cybersecurity measures, particularly during high-profile events such as the Olympic Games. Although there has been no impact on the Olympic-related systems, the attack serves as a reminder of the constant vigilance required to protect critical infrastructure and data.
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