For several weeks, many French Internet users have been deprived of France Connect to connect to online public services. In fact, the button dedicated to Health Insurance (Ameli) is inactive, which prevents the use of FranceConnect based on your social security number. If the official sites mention “technical maintenance” the Chained Duck evokes, in its August 31 edition, a very different version.
According to the weekly, which cites a confidential letter to which it had access, this suspension is due to a decision by the Health Insurance management due to weaknesses in computer security. Addressed to the Digital Interministerial Directorate (DINUM), in charge of FranceConnect, the letter warns about the voluntary withdrawal of access to the service on the Ameli portal, threatening not to restore it until the security of the service is reinforced.
Fraud risk
The hacks targeting FranceConnect are based on fraudulent phone calls or fake emails posing as one of the public services (Health Insurance or General Directorate of Public Finances, in particular). For example, by promising to repay an overpayment, scammers are able to convince victims to provide login credentials.
Data that is even more sensitive because, once in the hands of criminals, it allows them to access all services. For example, to modify the RIB used when reimbursing medical care, or at the tax site. During the month of August, both the Health Insurance and the General Directorate of Public Finance published notices related to these threats on their respective sites.
With the Canard enchaîné, DINUM confirms “an uptick in complaints that go through FranceConnect” while also ensuring that new security measures have been implemented with “a search for a balance between security and accessibility to the different public services.
A situation that could become urgent for some: as the Public Finance site reminds us, access to its particular space is currently simply impossible for those who use FranceConnect through their Ameli identifiers.
Source: BFM TV
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