A major cyberattack has hit Orange, one of the largest telecom companies in France. Criminal hackers stole business customer data and later published it on the dark web. The data leak has raised concerns about how safe sensitive information is when held by big telecommunications providers.
Hackers target Orange’s internal systems
Orange confirmed that the breach took place at the end of July. The attack targeted the company’s internal systems using ransomware linked to a gang called Warlock. Around four gigabytes of business customer data were released online in mid-August.
The company explained that the hackers had limited access. According to Orange, only outdated or less sensitive data was taken. Despite this, Orange said it contacted the affected companies before the information appeared online. It also reported the incident to national authorities and has been working closely with them since.
The spokesperson added that Orange has been supporting all the businesses whose information was involved. The company stressed that no critical systems were shut down and that the attack was contained quickly.
Data published on the dark web
The stolen Orange data showed up on the dark web. This is a hidden part of the internet often used for crime. The leak means the information once kept by Orange is now public in secret forums. The company says the data is old. But experts warn that even old details can still be used for fraud and scams.
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The ransomware gang behind the attack is called Warlock. The group rents out its hacking software to other criminals. These hackers use it to lock computers with encryption. Victims must pay money to get access back. In Orange’s case, the hackers stole data instead of shutting down systems. But the attack was still serious.
This is not the first time Orange has been attacked this year. In July, hackers accessed customer information from Orange’s Belgian division. In another case, employee data from the company’s operations in Romania was leaked online. These repeated incidents show how telecom firms remain high-value targets for cybercriminals.
Telecom industry under attack
Telecom companies like Orange keep huge amounts of important data. This can include customer financial details and private messages from businesses and governments. Hackers target these companies because one attack can give them access to a lot of private information.
Experts explain that stolen telecom data can be misused in many ways. Criminals may sell it to others, use it to launch phishing attacks, or combine it with other stolen information to commit fraud. Even if the stolen files are old, they can still be dangerous when placed in the wrong hands.
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The latest attack adds pressure on telecom operators to secure their systems. It also highlights how ransomware groups are evolving. Instead of only locking computers and demanding ransom, some gangs now release stolen files online to increase pressure on victims.
For Orange, this incident is one of several cybersecurity challenges it has faced this year. The company says it is cooperating fully with the relevant authorities and keeping its affected business clients updated.
