French tax authorities confirm third data breach

The General Directorate of Public Finances (DGFiP) has acknowledged a third data breach related to unclaimed inheritances. This breach, detected recently, was quickly secured, according to the DGFiP.

Amélie Verdier, the Director General of the DGFiP, stated that this breach "was really not of the same magnitude" as the two previous cyberattacks revealed on August 14. These intrusions had exposed data of over 678,000 individuals and professionals, increasing the risks of phishing.

The Minister of Public Finances, David Amiel, has apologized to the victims of these security lapses. He expressed concern about the potential impact on taxpayers affected by these incidents.

The DGFiP confirmed that the portal breach involved information related to legal announcements. Although the leak was swiftly addressed, it has raised concerns about the protection of fiscal data in France.

DGFiP officials continue to monitor the situation to prevent further breaches. Security measures may be intensified following these incidents.

The acknowledgment of this new breach comes as dialogue around cybersecurity in the public sector strengthens in response to the increase in cyberattacks.