A cyberattack hit multiple institutions in Pau, France, including the Pau-Pyrénées airport, the Eklore business school (formerly CNPC), and the Pau digital campus, on May 13, 2024. The incident affected operations but did not halt them completely, according to the Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Investigations are underway, with the involvement of cybersecurity experts, and the incident has been reported to authorities.
Although operational activities continue in a degraded mode, classes at the business school proceed without access to some digital tools. The nature of the attack is suspected to be ransomware, which typically restricts access to computer systems or files and demands a ransom for restoration. This isn’t the first cyber incident in the region, as similar attacks have targeted institutions like the firefighters of Sdis 64 in 2023 and the hospital of Oloron-Sainte-Marie in 2021.
Data theft is a concern in this attack, as reported by the National Commission for Information Technology and Civil Liberties (CNIL), which has been informed about the breach. Despite the ongoing analysis, specific details about the attack’s origin and extent of data stolen remain unclear. Interestingly, the digital campus targeted in the attack serves as a hub for cybersecurity and digital trust, highlighting the irony or strategic intent behind the attackers’ choice. The Chamber of Commerce and Industry offers guidance to local businesses to enhance their cybersecurity posture through informative sessions and awareness programs.
