Brent Agar, VP Strategic Partnerships, SentryBay – Being a huge sports fan and a cybersecurity professional it’s very disconcerting to know that security agencies worldwide are not only predicting a surge in cyberattacks during the Paris Olympic Games officially opening today (26 July) but there seems to be an in-built ‘acceptance’ that online attacks are part and parcel of any global event.
The Paris Olympic Games are projected to sell more than 13 million tickets and attract over 15 million visitors, resulting in an estimated $12 billion in economic activity. With such a massive ticketing operation and increase in commerce, experts caution that the Games will become a prime target for cyberattacks.
Vincent Strubel, the director general of ANSSI, France’s cybersecurity agency, warns “The Games are facing an unprecedented level of threat. But we’ve also done an unprecedented amount of preparation work, so I think we’re a step ahead of the attackers.”
That’s the problem, these are indeed unprecedented times and those charged with safeguarding businesses, organizations and events against cyber threats “think” they’re one step ahead of cyber criminals. What if you “knew” you were ahead instead of “thinking” you were ahead? I’ll come back to this proposition later.
An Eightfold Increase In Cyberattacks
The Olympic Games are a prime target for cyberattacks due to their worldwide significance and high visibility. In 2021, the Tokyo Games faced around 450 million cyberattacks, as reported by Cisco. Looking at Paris 2024, the technology giant predicts a staggering eightfold increase in cyber threats. The vast amount of sensitive information and financial transactions associated with the Games make them an attractive prospect for cyber criminals, according to experts.
On its official website Paris 2024 states, “Motivated by financial gain, cyber criminals are redoubling their efforts and will not hesitate to create websites that spoof everyday services such as web-based email, online shopping, banks and government agencies,”
Various Types Of Cyberattacks
There are various types of cyberattacks out there. For example, spoofing involves criminals pretending to be someone else online to carry out harmful cyber activities, while phishing scams involve attackers using fake emails or messages to steal personal information like passwords or credit card details. Phishing scams can even be used to install malware.
Different forms of cyber threats include harmful activities such as distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks, which interrupt regular internet traffic by flooding a specific server or network with an excessive amount of traffic, as well as different types of malware. Specialists also point out that cyber offenders are employing more advanced methods to enhance their skills. Cybercriminals continue to utilize familiar attack methods, but advancements in technology are creating opportunities for more malicious behavior.
Last year, ANSSI highlighted in its cyber threat overview report that all parties involved in the Olympic Games are working hard to enhance the security of information systems and to establish a stronger detection and incident response system in line with the evolving threats.
Paris 2024 officials are actively working on enhancing cybersecurity measures, including strengthening networks and conducting thorough audits. In addition, they are setting up rapid response teams and organizing training sessions to increase awareness. The IT challenges faced by the Paris 2024 Games are like those encountered by businesses, making it a large-scale IT project. Ethical hackers are also being employed to carry out penetration tests and identify potential vulnerabilities.
Threat Actors Deploying AI For Cyberattacks
At SentryBay we have warned that cybercriminals are now harnessing sophisticated artificial intelligence (AI) to amplify their malicious activities. The widespread availability of generative AI and other emerging technologies presents a significant danger to both businesses and the public.
While major sports events like the Olympics bring joy and excitement, they also present opportunities for cybercriminals to exploit unsuspecting fans (and competitors!). Now back to my opening proposition. What if security agencies “knew” they were ahead of cyber criminals instead of “thinking” they were ahead? Is this possible? Yes, it is.
By staying vigilant and utilizing proven cybersecurity solutions from SentryBay, security agencies and professionals can protect their stakeholders from these threats and allow people to enjoy events like the Olympics safely. Remember, the best defense against cyber threats is a combination of awareness, education, and cutting-edge technology. Stay safe and enjoy the games!
About The Author
Brent Agar is VP Strategic Partnerships at SentryBay and is also responsible for building the company’s customer-base in North America. He was previously responsible for business development at Wolf Mobile, a pioneer in GPS tracking mobile data collection in California. He has extensive experience in solution sales and has particular expertise in the cybersecurity and IT service market. His proven ability to identify business critical priorities and align company solutions and resources has enabled him to build the SentryBay brand in the US and secure large corporate contracts with multinational organizations.
