Attacker gets into France's database listing all bank accounts, makes off with 1.2 million records
The Register
February 22, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
An unknown attacker infiltrated France's government database, compromising sensitive information of 1.2 million bank accounts, including account numbers, addresses, and tax identification details. The breach occurred in January when attackers exploited stolen credentials to gain access. While the French government swiftly contained the attack, it has issued warnings to account holders about potential fraudulent activity. This incident underscores the growing threat of cyberattacks on critical national infrastructure and highlights the urgent need for robust cybersecurity measures.
In related news, Palo Alto Networks' Unit 42 reported that two severe zero-day vulnerabilities in Ivanti's Endpoint Manager for Mobile (EPMM) are being actively exploited by attackers. These flaws, rated at a high severity level (CVE-2026-1281 and CVE-2026-1340), have been targeted across various industries, including healthcare, manufacturing, and government sectors in multiple countries. Attackers are leveraging these vulnerabilities to establish reverse shells, deploy malware, and conduct reconnaissance for further exploitation. Fortunately, patches are available, and organizations are encouraged to prioritize their implementation to avoid downtime.
Meanwhile, the cybersecurity community continues to grapple with emerging threats like the 0APT group, which initially appeared suspicious but has since demonstrated real malicious activity. Researchers found that 0APT operates a functional ransomware-as-a-service platform capable of reliable attacks. While there were initial doubts about its authenticity, Howler Cell threat researchers confirmed that 0APT is actively targeting victims with viable malware and a legitimate affiliate program, suggesting it may be attempting to build its reputation quickly.
The rapid integration of AI into cyberattacks is another concerning trend, as highlighted in Palo Alto Networks' 2026 Global Incident Response Report. AI has significantly accelerated attack speeds, enabling criminals to exploit vulnerabilities more effectively and efficiently. This technology not only increases the scale and success rate of attacks but also opens new attack vectors, making it one of the most dangerous emerging threats. As cybercriminals continue to leverage AI, the need for proactive cybersecurity strategies becomes even more critical.
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Originally published on The Register on 2/22/2026