French police probe ransomware attack on Olympic venue


FILE PHOTO: People skate on the ice rink at the Grand Palais exhibition hall in Paris, France December 26, 2019. REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes/File Photo

PARIS (Reuters) - French cyber crime police are investigating a ransomware attack against the Grand Palais exhibition hall in Paris where Olympic events including fencing and Taekwondo are being held, Paris prosecutors said on Tuesday.

They said cyber criminals had targeted the institution's central computer system, but the incident had not caused any disruption to Olympic events taking place in the iconic glass-roofed exhibition hall in the centre of the French capital.

The computer system at the venue also handles data for 40 mainly small museums with which it is affiliated, the prosecutors said in an email.

Franceinfo radio said the attackers had demanded payment of a ransom within 48 hours, threatening to post online the financial data they had obtained if they did not receive the unspecified sum of money.

(Reporting by Dominique Vidalon; Writing by Leigh Thomas; Editing by Helen Popper)

Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!

Next In World

Russian strike hits Ukrainian city of Kremenchuk, cutting utilities, mayor says
Australia activates disaster relief for wildfire-hit New South Wales state
Flash: At least 23 people killed in nightclub fire in India: media
Senior US diplomat calls EU policies bad for trans-Atlantic partnership
At least 23 people dead after fire in India's Goa state, chief minister says
Hegseth says he would have ordered second strike on Caribbean vessel
2nd LD Writethru: 7.0-magnitude earthquake hits Alaska
1st LD: 7.0-magnitude earthquake hits Alaska
Interview: Innovation-driven cooperation with China essential for European businesses, says expert
Magnitude 7 earthquake strikes Yakutat, Alaska region, USGS says

Others Also Read