The city of Bouchemaine, near Angers, fell victim to a cyberattack over the weekend of June 17 and 18, 2023. The attack impacted municipal services, prompting the town hall to conduct ongoing technical diagnostics to determine the origin and severity of the intrusion. However, an update reveals that the cyberattack, which involved a ransom demand, is now a distant memory. Almost all data has been recovered, and the system’s functionality restored, with heightened security measures implemented. The municipality incurred costs for external services, including verification tests and security measures to eliminate any remaining risks.
Following the cyberattack, municipal informatics successfully recovered, and security levels were enhanced. Nearly all data affected by the ransom-demanding attack has been restored, and the town hall’s services are accessible by phone, although some difficulties may persist due to the latest updates. The restoration involved external services, comprehensive verification tests, and security measures, ensuring the elimination of potential risks. While the technical investigations and diagnoses indicated no damage to computing devices, the municipality filed a complaint with the gendarmerie, Anssi (National Agency for the Security of Information Systems), and Cnil (National Commission for Informatics and Freedoms).
The day after the intrusion, the municipality initiated legal proceedings by filing a complaint with the gendarmerie and notifying Anssi and Cnil. Despite the incident, the town’s computing devices were found undamaged, allowing normal business operations to resume. Most business software has been restored, and measures are underway to re-establish flows and process pending invoices. The restoration efforts included enhanced security measures on each workstation to eliminate potential risks, signifying a comprehensive approach to safeguarding the information system.