With the 2024 Olympic Games very much in full swing, organisers know they have much work to do to ensure cybersecurity issues don’t derail any of the sporting spectacle.
Of course, this issue isn’t a new concern – the Tokyo games of 2020 were thought to have been the target of no fewer than 450 million attempted cyberattacks. Even the London Games of 2012 had millions of its own, perhaps the most well-known being a 40-minute DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) attack attempting to compromise the power supply in the Olympic Park.
The Paris Olympics could see state-sponsored attacks seeking to disrupt the games come from a hostile nation state – for example an attack from Russia, which has again seen its athletes banned from the games unless they compete as Individual Neutral Athletes (AINs). It may also wish to disrupt France’s moment in the sun as revenge for the country supporting Ukraine since the Russian invasion of 2022.
Other attacks could see the teams themselves targeted by their competitors, who explore every avenue to uncover rival tactics or techniques ahead of crucial matchups. Whilst little has made it to the public consciousness, cyber espionage campaigns were thought to have been rampant ahead of the two most recent Beijing Games (the Summer Olympics of 2008 and Winter Games in 2022).
Fans and spectators could also fall victim – with hackers using the sky-high interest in the Olympics to try and push malware downloads or exhort bank details. These unscrupulous hackers are expected to offer last-minute ticket deals or availability to rush consumers into making a rash decision, as in so doing be more likely to miss any red flags and make a choice they later regret.
Paris 2024 organisers are aware of the dangers present, and have specially trained ‘Cyberwarriors’ to try and negate the threat. However, their jobs will be made significantly easier if all those interested in the Olympics – everyone from athletes to spectators – keep their wits about them and know exactly what to look out for.
