French authorities have successfully apprehended a 20-year-old hacker known by the pseudonym HexDex, who is suspected of exfiltrating data from numerous websites and leaking private information. The arrest took place on April 20, 2026, in the Vendée region, just as the suspect was allegedly preparing to release more stolen data online. This operation was the culmination of an investigation that began in December 2025, following nearly 100 reports of data theft.
HexDex is accused of targeting a wide range of organizations, including sports federations, government offices, and private companies. Notably, he allegedly breached the French Ministry of Education's systems, affecting 243,000 employees by exposing their personal information. Other targets reportedly included the SIA firearms database, the e-campus platform for police training, and various public service and cultural institutions.
The Cybercrime Brigade (BL2C) has seized HexDex's computer equipment and taken control of his account on Darkforums, a platform known for the exchange of stolen data. This account now displays a notification indicating it has been seized by authorities. While HexDex has admitted to using the alias, he denies involvement in a separate attack on the ANTS portal, which may have compromised data from 12 million accounts.
The impact of HexDex's activities is significant, with sensitive data from numerous organizations potentially exposed. The breach of the Ministry of Education's system alone highlights the vulnerability of critical infrastructure to cyber threats. Organizations affected by these breaches must assess the extent of the damage and take steps to secure their systems against future attacks.
To mitigate the risks posed by such cyber threats, affected parties should conduct thorough security audits and enhance their data protection measures. Monitoring for unauthorized access and data leaks is essential, and organizations should consider collaborating with cybersecurity experts to strengthen their defenses against potential future incidents.
Source: https://therecord.media/french-hacker-cyberattacks-arrest