France Launches 'Operation Cactus' Anti-Phishing Campaign in Schools

Operation Cactus: Combating Cyber Threats

• 🎯 Operation Cactus is a nationwide campaign in France aimed at educating children and teens about online scams and hackers.
• 💡 The initiative seeks to teach young people how to recognize the warning signs of cyber phishing (hammeçage).

Phishing Simulation in Schools

• 📧 France's Education Department conducted a large-scale test by sending a fake phishing email to 2.5 million students.
• ⚠️ The email promised free video games, and alarmingly, one in 12 students (210,000) clicked on the malicious link.
• 🎓 Those who clicked were redirected to an educational video explaining how to identify and avoid attempts to steal personal information or money.

National Cybercrime Statistics

• 📈 Phishing is identified as the number one problem for individuals in France, with a 38% increase in reported cases last year.
• 🏦 The government's cyber malveillance site received approximately 280,000 requests for help.
• 📞 The Cyber Watchdog also noted a significant rise in fake bank emails and calls, up by 78% from the previous year.
• 💻 These cyber attacks are a growing concern not only for schools but also globally.