Set up in July 2021 via the government platform, "Cyber Alert" has already been triggered nine times. "Significant flaws have been communicated to three million companies," said the minister.

These alerts are also relayed by the Association of Mayors of France to inform the 34,000 French municipalities.

Small businesses, "it's a bit the weak link", while many are among the actors of vital importance, such as those of the food supply chain, commented the president of the Medef Geoffroy Roux de Bézieux.

BFM Business undertakes to disseminate alerts, information concerning the security breach and the means to remedy it.

These alerts must meet specific criteria (massive attacks, dangerous, possible technical solution) and indicate which systems are affected and which "patches" (patch software) can be implemented, said a spokeswoman for cybermalveillance.gouv.fr.

They are mainly aimed at organizations that do not fall within the scope of the missions of the National Agency for the Security of Information Systems (ANSSI), focused on the cybersecurity of operators of vital interest. ANSSI and the Cybermalveillance website give the green light to these alerts by "qualifying" the intrusion.

"Alerte Cyber" was created at the initiative of a collective of professional organizations led by Medef, in collaboration with ANSSI and Cybermalveillance, a platform created 5 years ago.

© 2023 AFP