Cyberattack cripples La Poste during peak holiday period
France’s national postal service La Poste faced a major disruption after a pro-Russian hacker group claimed responsibility for a cyberattack that knocked out central computer systems. On 24 December 2025, the Associated Press reported that the attack caused widespread delivery delays and affected online payment systems, with technical problems still unresolved by Wednesday morning.
The incident occurred at the most demanding time of the year for postal operators, when parcel volumes surge ahead of Christmas. Disruptions during this period quickly ripple through supply chains, affecting millions of customers and placing additional strain on small and medium-sized businesses that rely on timely deliveries.
Pro-Russian group claims responsibility
The cyberattack was attributed to the hacker group Noname 057, which publicly took responsibility and framed the operation as part of its ongoing campaign against Western states. The group has previously been linked to attacks on European targets, including government websites and public institutions.
Messages circulating on pro-Russian channels, including a post linked to the group’s activity, presented the operation as a demonstration of capability rather than an attempt to steal data. French media reported that there was no evidence of customer information being compromised, but the operational impact was significant.
Part of a broader hybrid pressure campaign
French security officials view the attack as part of a wider pattern of hybrid operations targeting countries that support Ukraine. Intelligence assessments in Paris increasingly treat cyber incidents against critical services, including postal and administrative systems, as coordinated pressure rather than isolated criminal acts.
Recent attacks on French government platforms and public services have reinforced concerns that such operations are designed to test defensive resilience. By probing systems under peak load conditions, attackers can identify vulnerabilities that could be exploited in more disruptive scenarios.
Implications for critical infrastructure resilience
The disruption at La Poste has renewed debate in France over the cyber resilience of state-run operators. Even without data breaches, prolonged outages undermine public confidence in digital services and expose weaknesses in contingency planning for essential infrastructure.
Security analysts warn that cyber operations linked to Russia are unlikely to decrease, regardless of diplomatic engagement or political signalling. Instead, Western governments are being urged to reassess cyber defence alongside military preparedness, recognising the digital domain as a central arena of strategic competition.
