Khaberni - French authorities confirmed that a government agency responsible for managing identity documents was subjected to a security breach, which raised widespread concerns about the leaking of sensitive data for millions of citizens.
The National Securities Agency, responsible for issuing and managing identity cards, passports, and immigration documents, announced that the attack led to a potential leak of personal data including full names, dates and places of birth, as well as email addresses, residence addresses, and phone numbers.
The agency explained that investigations are still ongoing to determine the circumstances and actual size of the breach, noting that the attack was detected on April 15, and notifications to those whose data might have been compromised have already begun.
Although the number of affected individuals has not been officially disclosed, media reports suggest that the incident could be widespread, potentially affecting millions of users.
According to the site "Bleeping Computer", a hacker posted the stolen data for sale on a specialized forum, claiming to possess a database containing about 19 million records.
The information displayed matched the type of data mentioned by the agency in its official statement, and the advertisement was published before the incident was officially announced on April 20.
This breach highlights the growing challenges governments face in protecting sensitive databases, amid escalating cyberattacks targeting vital digital infrastructure.
