Since the Olympics began, hundreds of medals have been awarded to the best athletes across the world. Behind the scenes however, medals may need to be handed out to the men and women in the cybersecurity industry tasked with protecting the Olympic games on a global stage as well.
The Olympics are one of the most watched and celebrated events globally, attracting immense media attention. This high visibility makes it a lucrative target for cyber attackers looking to make a significant impact. Considering how complex and extensive the digital and physical infrastructure of an event like the Olympics demand, it is no surprise why the Olympic event is a prime target for hackers.
Here’s a couple cybersecurity events that transpired since the start of the Paris Olympics.
Warning In Advance
Prior to the July 26 opening ceremony, various industry professionals, including threat intelligence experts from Google subsidiary Mandiant, reported that cyber threat activity would be extremely prevalent leading up to the Olympic games, particularly from Russian hacker groups.
Prepping for cybersecurity attacks leading into a major global event like the Olympics is nothing new. “Modern Olympics games are primarily technology events” stated Paris Olympics CISO Franz Regul.
The increased digital footprint due to reliance on various technologies and services coupled with a hacker’s treasure trove of stored personal information for attendees, athletes and staff has made the games a hot bed for cyberattacks every four years.
French Fiber Optic Cables Cut
Shortly after the Olympic games officially kicked off, Paris was hit with a significant cyber-attack, but not of the digital nature.
In what has been deemed a coordinated sabotage of critical French infrastructure, there was arson attacks on high-speed rail lines combined with severed fiber optic cables which impacted multiple French telecommunications service providers.
While industry professionals justifiably hyper focus on the vast tactics used to infiltrate networks, physical attacks on vital equipment can be just as harmful to the digital ecosystem.
Grand Palais Ransomware Attack
One week after the fiber cables were cut, The Grand Palais, a historic museum in Paris and a venue hosting several Olympic events, was hit with a ransomware attack. Critical systems such as event management systems and security protocols were maliciously encrypted, leading to delays and confusion amongst attendees.
The response to contain the attack was fortunately swift; operations teams on hand isolated affected systems and initiated back up protocols to get event proceedings back on track. No lasting damage has been reported and authorities have remained transparent to maintain public trust and assurance.
What's Next?
Bad actors typically see the Olympics as an opportunity to test and breach advanced security defenses. Successfully executing an attack during such a high-profile event can demonstrate the attackers’ capabilities and superiority. There are only a few days left in the Paris Olympics and the hope is that all major cyber threats to the games have been mitigated.
It is important to note that the conclusion of the games does not necessarily signify an end to threat activity. In fact, hackers are persistent in learning new attack strategies and may be looking for the next major event to disrupt.
The Future of Olympic-Scale Cybersecurity
As we move forward, it is essential to learn from an event like the Paris Olympics and ensure that global infrastructure is resilient against both physical and cyber threats. Only through vigilance, preparedness, and collaboration can we safeguard the critical systems that underpin our modern society.
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