Record Rise in Cybercrime: France Reports 348,000 Incidents in 2024
France's 2024 cybercrime report reveals a 74% rise in incidents, prompting strong government response.
Key Points
- • 348,000 cyber incidents reported in 2024, a 74% increase from five years ago.
- • 65% of cyberattacks targeted property; 29.7% aimed at individuals.
- • 15,000 police and gendarmes are monitoring cyber activities.
- • Operation ENDGAME successfully neutralized over 100 servers involved in cybercrime.
In its 2024 annual report on cybercrime, the French Ministry of the Interior has revealed an alarming rise in cyber incidents, with 348,000 cases documented—representing a staggering 74% increase over the past five years. The report highlights a shifting landscape in cybercrime, where 65% of attacks targeted property, 29.7% aimed at individuals, and 4.9% were directed at institutions. Notably, only 0.4% of these incidents involved breaches of specific digital legislation, emphasizing the need for more robust cyber protections.
The increase in cyber incidents has been attributed to the industrialization of cybercrime, with a growing trend of specialization among criminals, leading to more coordinated attacks utilizing artificial intelligence and cryptocurrencies. This evolving sophistication of cybercriminal activities poses significant challenges to public safety and national security.
To combat these threats, the report indicates that more than 15,000 police and gendarmes are now dedicated to monitoring cyberspace. The ministry has also taken steps to bolster its cybersecurity operations through the establishment of the Commandement du ministère de l’Intérieur dans le cyberespace (COMCYBER-MI) aimed at enhancing France's defensive capabilities against cyber threats.
Significantly, the report highlights the success of Operation ENDGAME, which focused on dismantling botnet networks that facilitate large-scale malware distribution. This operation led to the neutralization of over 100 servers and the freezing of 99 criminal cryptocurrency wallets containing more than 70 million euros. Minister Bruno Retailleau underscored the necessity for continuous investment in new technologies to keep pace with this evolving threat landscape, ensuring that cybercriminals do not operate with impunity.