The 2024 Paris Olympic Games, set to begin later this week and extend through mid-August, are anticipated to face significant cybersecurity risks according to experts. Here are the primary concerns:
1. State-sponsored Hacking: French intelligence agency ANSSI has issued warnings that state-funded actors, particularly from Russia, may target the digital infrastructure of the games. This comes in response to Russia’s ban from participation due to doping and geopolitical tensions. Hackers may aim to disrupt the event and attract global media attention through various cyber attacks including data breaches, DDoS attacks, and other forms of fraud. Groups like the People’s Cyber Army have already expressed intent by targeting French websites.
2. Fraudulent Mobile Applications: Organizers have developed mobile apps to aid visitors, volunteers, and athletes with navigation, accommodations, and transactions. How-ever, security experts caution that malicious apps disguised as legitimate ones have surfaced on app stores. These fake apps aim to steal personal data and financial information.
3. Dark Web Data Sales: Recent incidents, such as data sets being sold on the dark web, highlight the risk of sensitive information being compromised. Credentials and personal data can be sold for profit, posing a threat before and during the games.
4. Email and SMS Phishing: Cybercriminals are increasingly using phishing scams to ex-tract valuable information from volunteers, organizers, and visitors. Users are advised to avoid clicking on suspicious links that could lead to malicious websites designed to collect personal data.
5. Ticket Sale Frauds: Experts advise against disclosing personal information when purchasing tickets or using transit services related to the Olympics. Unauthorized access to personal information like dates of birth, social security numbers, and bank details can lead to identity theft and other fraudulent activities.
To mitigate these risks, it is recommended to download tickets exclusively from official plat-forms and use only verified apps like the official Olympic Games Paris 2024 mobile app. Additionally, monitoring bank statements regularly for unauthorized transactions is advised to detect and mitigate potential fraud promptly.
