Paris (AFP) – France’s TV5Monde television channel resumed full operations Thursday, 18 hours after an “unprecedented” hack by self-proclaimed Islamic State militants, who shut down transmissions and hijacked its website and social networks.
Authorities said the hack was likely a “terrorist act” and urged media companies to be “vigilant”, warning that further attacks could not be ruled out.
Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said: “There are a lot of elements that suggest that a terrorist act” was to blame for the shutdown at the Paris-based station, whose programs are broadcast in more than 200 countries worldwide.
For most of Thursday, the channel was forced to broadcast pre-recorded programs after what TV5Monde boss Yves Bigot said was a cyber-attack “unprecedented in the history of television.”
The hackers took control of the station and its social media operations late Wednesday.
By seizing the IT system, they were able to black out the TV channels for several hours.
The self-styled cyberjihadists also posted documents on its Facebook page purporting to be the identity cards and CVs of relatives of French soldiers involved in anti-IS operations, along with threats against the troops.
The defence ministry in Paris said it was working to verify whether the documents were genuine.

French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve and Culture minister Fleur Pellerin speak to the press

 
French Prime Minister Manuel Valls said the hack was an “unacceptable attack on the freedom of information and expression”, voicing “total solidarity with the editorial staff.”
Senior government members flocked to the station to show their support, with Cazeneuve saying: “We are up against determined terrorists … we are determined to fight them.”
Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said: “Everything is being done to find those who carried this out, punish them, re-establish the programs and prevent cyber-terrorists threatening freedom of expression in the future.”.