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Attackers deliberately cut fiber optic cables at a node in France important to the global internet. This is reported by the IT magazine “heise.de”, which quotes the French network operator “Free”. In the Marseille region, cables have been cut in at least three places.

Pictures of damaged cables have «Free» published on his Twitter account. The network operator writes: “In Marseille, there were significant disruptions in the delivery of fixed and mobile communications. The attacks were carried out simultaneously in several places in the region.”

Because international traffic also flows via Marseille, data traffic “to Australia or Southeast Asia” was affected by the attacks, “heise.de” reports.

First attacks already in the spring

It was not the first time that there had been an attack on fiber optic cables in France. Grid operator “Free” reported similar incidents near Paris in April 2022. Four fiber optic cables were cut there.

What distinguishes the current attacks from those in the spring is the “international dimension,” the IT magazine quotes a technical director as saying. “While French traffic in particular suffered from the attack in April, this time the international lines are also affected.”

Concerns about attacks on data traffic also in Germany

There is also great fear in Germany of attacks on internet nodes and data lines. A few days ago, Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser announced an early regulation to improve protection of critical infrastructure in Germany.

“We are working intensively on the overarching Kritis Act that we have agreed in the coalition agreement,” said Faeser. “In this way, we will increase the requirements for operators of critical infrastructures.”

These should be extensively armed against dangers such as natural disasters, terrorism, sabotage, but also human error.

(t-online,sha)