Data-rich systems and weak security: why France is a target for cyberattacks

France has become a major cybercrime target, because its interconnected public systems hold vast amounts of personal data while security gaps and a lack of resources have left vulnerabilities. © Kacper Pempel/Reuters

France is one of Europe's biggest targets for cyberattacks. While its political and economic importance make it a mark for foreign governments, criminals are increasingly exploiting gaps in cybersecurity to access the vast amounts of personal data in the country's interconnected public systems.

“We may be one of the most targeted countries,” says Benoît Grünemwald, a cybersecurity expert with ESET, a Slovakia-based company that provides security services in France, Europe and beyond. “We are in the top five for sure.”