Authorities in Austria have announced that they have successfully thwarted a cyberattack targeting the Eurovision Song Contest during the week of the contest in Vienna. According to Austrian authorities, almost 500 cyberattack attempts during Eurovision activities in the capital.
The cyberattack targeted both the official Eurovision website and the access control systems used at the venue, raising concerns about a potential disruption to one of Europe's biggest live entertainment shows.
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Michael Takàcs, head of Austria's federal police, said the cyber-sabotage attempts were detected and thwarted before they could cause serious damage. Speaking at a press conference, Takàcs explained that the attackers tried to slow down systems, interfere with operations and possibly disable critical infrastructure linked to the competition.
“The perpetrators sought to disrupt, slow down or disable systems,” Takàcs said, adding that investigators have not yet identified those responsible for the Eurovision cyberattack attempts nor determined their motives.
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In response to the heightened threat environment, Austrian authorities implemented extensive security measures during the final week of the Eurovision Song Contest. Around 3,500 police officers flooded Vienna, while special police units from Bavaria, Germany, assisted local law enforcement teams.
Security services also increased monitoring of online activity during the event. Officials from Austria’s Interior Ministry said authorities had observed increasing levels of polarization and radicalization on social media platforms in the run-up to the contest. Intelligence and internal security services reportedly paid particular attention to extremist threats and groups linked to Iran, although officials did not directly link them to the cyberattack on Eurovision systems.
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Austria's Interior Minister, Gerhard Karner, said the main goal was to ensure public safety during the event and prevent major incidents during the live broadcasts and public gatherings. "The goal was to ensure a safe and peaceful event. We achieved that," Karner said, noting that there were no major disruptions during the Eurovision Song Contest despite cybersecurity threats and protests.
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