French Lawmakers' Telegram Accounts Hacked in Phishing Attack

Overview

• The Paris prosecutor's office has opened an investigation into the hacking of Telegram accounts belonging to French lawmakers and an ex-minister.
• The phishing attack involved fraudulent links that prompted victims to enter their phone numbers, compromising their accounts and enabling the spread of malicious content.
• At least two deputies, Laure Lavalette (RN) and Alexis Corbière (NFP), were confirmed victims, along with members of the National Assembly staff and an unidentified former Macron government minister.
• Security experts highlighted the broader vulnerabilities in digital tools used by political figures, despite available cybersecurity training and recommendations like enabling two-factor authentication.
• Preliminary analysis suggests potential links to cybercriminals operating since 2022, although no definitive attribution, including to state actors, has been established.