Hackers claim breach of French housing ministry database with 149 million records
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Hackers claimed to have breached the Zero Logement Vacant database, which is managed by France's Ministry of Urban Planning and Housing. The group ZeroBytes said it accessed nearly 149 million raw records containing property owner information and account data. The claim follows three major French government data breaches in August, according to the director general of the DGFiP.
Key Facts
- ZeroBytes claimed responsibility for breaching the Zero Logement Vacant database, which is managed by France's Ministry of Urban Planning and Housing.
- The hackers said they accessed nearly 149 million raw records containing property owner information and account data.
- Amélie Verdier, director general of the DGFiP, said three major breaches of French government databases occurred in August 2026.
- On 12 August, hackers accessed data of 350,000 people, including correspondence with the tax service.
- On 13 August, a breach of the cadastral database exposed data on 433,500 individuals and 1,000 legal entities.
Zero Logement Vacant Breach
The Zero Logement Vacant platform helps local authorities return vacant housing to the real estate market. ZeroBytes claimed responsibility for the breach and said it accessed nearly 149 million raw records. The records contain information about property owners and account data, according to the hackers. AFP noted that the records may contain duplicate data, making it difficult to determine how many individuals or organizations were affected.
August Government Data Breaches
Amélie Verdier, director general of the DGFiP, said three major breaches of French government databases occurred in August 2026. On 12 August, hackers accessed data of 350,000 people, including their correspondence with the tax service. On 13 August, a breach of the cadastral database exposed data on 433,500 individuals and 1,000 legal entities. On 17 August, hackers gained access to a database related to inheritance cases.
ZeroBytes Group Profile
ZeroBytes was previously mentioned in media reports in connection with a breach of the French tax service database. The group is believed to consist of two French nationals who claim to operate from outside France. The hackers told AFP they sold the stolen data for several thousand euros to two people and continue to trade it. They stated their motive was financial gain and denied any political agenda. ZeroBytes also claimed responsibility for breaching the French Ministry of Education database, which reported a leak of personal data of employees who worked there since 2001.
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Hackers claim breach of French housing ministry database with 149 million records
