On Saturday, March 23, 2024, several media outlets in the Altice group in France faced a cyberattack, with malicious messages disseminated on social networks, purportedly by the Epsilon group, known for previous cyberattacks. BFMTV and RMC, two major French media outlets, were particularly affected, prompting questions about the motives behind the attack and its connection to recent developments, including BFMTV’s acquisition and potential leadership changes.
The cyberattack occurred amidst significant changes in BFMTV’s ownership and leadership in France, with Rodolphe Saadé’s acquisition of the media outlet and speculation about the replacement of its director-general, Marc-Olivier Fogiel. Despite the transition in ownership, Saadé emphasized a commitment to supporting the existing teams and maintaining editorial integrity, suggesting a shift in the French media landscape. Messages disseminated during the cyberattack were hostile towards Russia and supportive of Palestine, sparking immediate attention and concern in France.
Despite the disruptive nature of the attack, the Altice group swiftly responded, mobilizing teams to restore normalcy and initiating legal actions to identify the perpetrators behind the intrusion. The incident underscores the ongoing challenges faced by media organizations in safeguarding against cyber threats and maintaining operational resilience in the digital age.
