**High-Tech Spyware Seized Aboard Ship in France**

In a shocking revelation, French intelligence services are investigating a suspected foreign operation after high-tech spyware was seized aboard a ferry in Sète, southern France.

According to French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez, "Individuals have tried to penetrate a ship's IT system... investigators suspect a foreign-born operation." The ship was docked in the Port of Sète, on the Mediterranean coast, when French authorities received intelligence from their Italian counterparts that the ferry's IT system had been infected by a remote access tool.

The Paris prosecutor's office has launched a judicial investigation into the case, with the French intelligence agency DGSI tasked with leading the probe. The news comes as several suspected hybrid warfare operations have been reported in the country in recent weeks, including drones buzzing over a highly sensitive submarine base and destabilization operations targeting high-profile monuments in Paris.

Russia is seen as a likely sponsor behind these operations, but neither the prosecutor's office nor Nuñez confirmed that Moscow was directly involved. However, the sophistication of the spying tool seized from the ship suggests otherwise. A source close to the investigation revealed that a "sophisticated spying tool" had been discovered, which allows IT systems to be infected and controlled remotely.

The Bulgarian suspect, who was arrested along with a Latvian crew member last Friday, has since been released. However, the Latvian suspect remains in custody and has been charged with conspiring to penetrate a data processing system on behalf of a foreign power. Investigations have taken place in Latvia in cooperation with local authorities.

This is not the first time that French investigators have found such gear. Nuñez revealed that similar instances had occurred in the past, but the scale and sophistication of this operation raise concerns about potential security breaches. The seizure of the spyware has sent shockwaves through the country's intelligence community, with many wondering what other sensitive information may be compromised.

As the investigation continues, one thing is clear: France is facing a growing threat from state-sponsored hacking operations, and the government must take immediate action to protect its citizens and interests. The question remains, who is behind this operation, and how far will they go in their pursuit of sensitive information?