Cybersecurity analysts have warned of a significant increase in cyberthreats targeting the upcoming Olympic Games in Paris .
Cybercriminals have been ramping up their efforts for more than a year, using sophisticated tools and tactics to exploit this global event, according to a recent report from FortiGuard Labs. The research, published today, reveals a significant increase in activity on the dark web, recording an 80-90% increase between the second half of 2023 and the first half of 2024.
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“As the 2024 Olympic Games approach, cybersecurity risks are at an all-time high,” commented Zendata CEO Narayana Pappu. “During the Tokyo Olympics, we saw nearly 450 million cyberattacks , and with technological advancements, these threats have become more sophisticated. Participants need to be vigilant about several key data security risks.”
One of the main concerns raised in the report is the proliferation of phishing kits tailored for the Olympics. These kits allow even inexperienced cybercriminals to create deceptive emails and websites, tricking unsuspecting users into revealing personal information or downloading malware.
This threat is exacerbated by the rise of fake ticketing platforms and fake websites, which pose significant financial risks to participants and undermine public trust.
Additionally, the report notes a rise in hacktivist activity, particularly from groups with geopolitical agendas aiming to disrupt the Olympics for political reasons. These groups, such as those from Russia and Belarus, are taking advantage of the international visibility of the event to promote their messages through cyberattacks.
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“In a worst-case scenario, these attacks could cause real violence or significantly disrupt the Olympics and democratic processes in France,” warned Stephen Kowski, field CTO in Pleasanton. “It is critical to proactively combat misinformation with strong defenses and public awareness.”
“Organizations must implement robust cybersecurity measures to protect themselves,” said Patrick Tiquet, vice president of security at Keeper Security. “This includes advanced encryption, strict access , and regular security audits to protect data and systems.”
Read also: Top 8 cyber threats for 2024
Further recommendations include deploying endpoint protection on all devices, being careful with public Wi-Fi , and finally implementing multi-factor authentication (MFA) on all systems.
Source: infosecurity-magazine.com
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