According to Bruno Marie-Rose, CTO of Paris 2024, the Paris Olympics could be the target of billions of cyberattacks, eight to ten times more than the Tokyo Games. These threats are exacerbated by cyber warfare in Ukraine, which heightens the risk of attacks from Russian-backed groups.
It is important to point out that the Olympics are one of the most attacked events in the world. The Games information systems, which include the transmission of real-time results, the dissemination of images, and the accreditation of athletes, teams and officials, are at the heart of these attacks.
During the Tokyo Games in 2021, there were 450 million attacks, already eight times more than in Rio in 2016. However, none of these attacks had an impact on the Games, thanks to robust security measures, as pointed out by Christophe Thivet, director at Atos of the technological integration of the 2024 Olympics.
Games technology managers are anticipating several types of attacks. First, hackers could seek to steal organizers' data, including identification data. They could also look for security holes in the systems already installed. There is also a risk of data hijacking, such as the creation of fake ticket selling sites.
To spot these vulnerabilities, Atos, responsible for the cybersecurity of the Games and sponsor of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), uses several strategies. This includes employing ethical hackers, performing penetration tests, bug bounty programs, attack simulations and monitoring the dark web to identify if cybercriminal groups are talking about the Olympics.
The Atos cybersecurity center, which has several dozen experts and is based in France, is supported by the French Information Systems Security Agency (ANSSI).< /p>
The war in Ukraine intensifies the risk of attacks by pro-Russian groups. Officials also admit that the Olympics are a target for geopolitical propaganda. The decision regarding the participation of Russian athletes may require increased vigilance.
The most alarming scenario would be attacks causing competitions to be interrupted or disrupted. Marie-Rose recalls the 2018 incident at the Pyeongchang Olympics, where a few systems were turned off before the opening ceremony, and insists he doesn't want it to happen again in Paris.
Finally, the Olympics are a prime target for hackers, whether to extort funds or to convey geopolitical messages. The construction phase, with many external service providers who do not always have the same security policy, is particularly vulnerable.
The exponential increase in cyberattacks against the Olympics presents a daunting challenge for the organizers of Paris 2024. However, robust security measures are in place to ensure the smooth running of the Games and protect athlete data, officials and spectators. Vigilance is required, but preparations to counter these threats are well underway.
Sources: France24, Le Figaro, L'Express, The Guardian, The Washington Post, Der Spiegel, El País.
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