Free, known as Free Mobile, is a major French telecommunications operator (part of the Iliad group) offering mobile and broadband services.
Overview
Free, known as Free Mobile, is a major French telecommunications operator (part of the Iliad group) offering mobile and broadband services. It is significant in cybersecurity because a 2024 GDPR data breach led to a €42 million penalty in January 2026, illustrating rigorous regulatory enforcement and the data protection risks facing telecom providers.
Related Threat Clusters
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Arrests Made in Major Cyberattack on French Tax Authority
French authorities arrested an 18-year-old, known as 'ChatNoir', for involvement in cyberattacks against the tax authority and other organizations. The attacks, attributed to the ZeroBytes hacking group, resulted in the…
2 articles · Updated September 8, 2026 -
France fines Free Mobile €42 million for 2024 data breach affecting millions
The French data protection authority, CNIL, has fined Free Mobile and its parent company €42 million for a data breach that occurred in October 2024. The breach compromised the personal data of over 24 million…
5 articles · Updated January 14, 2026
Recent Intelligence Reports
- French prosecutors confirm arrest of suspected ZeroBytes hacker behind tax cyberattack — Therecord.Media · September 8, 2026
- French telecoms fined €42 million for major GDPR data breach — Scworld · January 15, 2026
- France fines telcos €42M for issues leading to 2024 breach — Theregister · January 14, 2026
- France fines Free Mobile €42 million over 2024 data breach incident — Bleepingcomputer · January 14, 2026
- France fines telcos €42M for sub — Theregister · January 14, 2026