Topic: EDF fined €1.5m for hacking Greenpeace computer

[Simon]

French energy giant EDF has been fined €1.5m and seen senior security staffers jailed for hacking into the computer systems of environmental group Greenpeace.

A Paris court found that two EDF employees stole files from Greenpeace computers.

Former policeman Pierre-Paul Francois and former rear admiral Pascal Durieux – the company's top two security chiefs - were each sentenced to three years in prison, while two other consultants were also sentenced to jail terms for their part in the plot.

The case involved confidential files stolen from the former Greenpeace France boss Yannick Jadot's computer – leading to charges of  "complicity in computer piracy", and the judge said she could not believe the company didn't know that the surveillance was ongoing.

Read more: http://www.pcpro.co.uk/news/security/371149/edf-fined-1-5m-for-hacking-greenpeace-computer

[Rik]

The French have a thing about Greenpeace, don't they.

[Simon]

I'm sure EDF customers will end up paying the fine.   

[Clive]

I was conned into switching to them but went back to British Gas after a year.  I wonder when we will be able to claim compensation for energy mis-selling.   

[Simon]

I've been with E.On for about 4 years. 

[Rik]

Even longer here, they seem Ok compared to most.

[daveeb]

I was conned into switching to them but went back to British Gas after a year.    

 sounds like a bad case of out of the frying pan and into the fire to me 

[Clive]

But they were cheaper. Nevertheless I don't trust British Gas any more than the next person!

[Simon]

I'm not convinced that switching actually does any good, as whoever you switch to seen puts their prices up again.  Unless you are prepared to switch several times over a year, I can't see that it's worth the hassle.

[Rik]

I agree. Within months, they all seem to be charging much the same - as best you can compare the tariffs.

[GillE]

The whole point of privatisation was to introduce competition and allow consumers to select whichever company gave them the best deal, wasn't it?  It seems to have worked out so that the only choice we have is which member of the cartel is going to rip us off.

[Rik]

You're not wrong, Gill.

[Clive]

It's just a cartel where they all elbow out the competition to keep prices up.   

[Rik]

That about sums it up.