Cyber Threats Facing the 2024 Paris Olympics

The 2024 Paris Olympics are facing a wide range of cyber threats, ranging from espionage and disruption to financially motivated activities. These threats, identified by Google Cloud’s Mandiant cybersecurity team, highlight the importance of robust cybersecurity measures for all stakeholders involved in the event.

Understanding the Threats

Mandiant outlines several types of cyber threats that could potentially impact various targets associated with the Olympics. These include:

1. Espionage: Targeting event organizers, sponsors, and government officials to steal sensitive information.

2. Disruption and Destruction: Launching distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks, defacements, wiper malware, or operational technology (OT) attacks to cause psychological distress and reputational damage.

3. Hacktivism and Influence Operations: Leveraging the event to spread disinformation and propaganda, often coupled with disruptive attacks.

4. Financially Motivated Activities: Engaging in ticket scams, identity theft, extortion, and social engineering operations.

Who is at Risk?

1. Event Organizers and Sponsors: These groups are primary targets due to their central role in the Olympics and the valuable data they handle.

2. Paris Infrastructure: Critical infrastructure supporting the event, such as transportation and utilities, could be targeted to cause widespread disruption.

3. Athletes and Spectators: Those traveling to the event are at risk of personal data theft and scams.

4. Government Officials and Decision Makers: The large number of officials attending the Olympics may attract cyber-espionage activities.

5. General Public: Fans and attendees may fall victim to various online scams and phishing attacks.

Potential Cyber Threat Actors

Russian Threat Groups

Mandiant assesses that Russian threat groups pose the most severe threat to the Olympics. These groups have a history of targeting previous Olympic games and may engage in malign influence campaigns against France and the International Olympic Committee (IOC). For instance, Russian-affiliated actors have already launched operations such as the “Olympics Has Fallen” campaign, using AI-generated content to defame the IOC and spread fear about potential terrorist attacks.

State-Sponsored Actors from China, Iran, and North Korea

While these actors pose a moderate to low risk, their involvement cannot be entirely ruled out. They may target the event for espionage or to promote their geopolitical agendas.

Financially Motivated Cybercriminals

These actors are likely to exploit the Olympics' popularity for monetary gain, engaging in activities such as ticket scams, theft of personal information, and extortion schemes.

How to Protect Yourself

1. For Event Organizers and Sponsors

   • Implement robust cybersecurity protocols and ensure all systems are up-to-date with the latest security patches.

   • Conduct regular security audits and penetration testing to identify and mitigate vulnerabilities.

   • Educate staff about phishing and social engineering attacks and establish protocols for reporting suspicious activities.

2. For Paris Infrastructure Managers

   • Strengthen the cybersecurity defenses of critical infrastructure supporting the Olympics.

   • Ensure all systems are equipped with the latest security updates and have intrusion detection systems in place.

   • Coordinate with national cybersecurity agencies to monitor and respond to potential threats in real-time.

3. For Athletes and Spectators

   • Be cautious of unsolicited messages and links related to the Olympics, especially those requesting personal information or payment details.

   • Use strong, unique passwords for online accounts and enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) wherever possible.

   • Avoid connecting to unsecured public Wi-Fi networks, particularly when accessing sensitive information.

4. For Government Officials and Decision Makers

   • Utilize secure communication channels and encrypt sensitive data.

   • Be aware of potential espionage activities and avoid discussing sensitive topics over insecure channels.

   • Ensure all devices are secured with the latest cybersecurity measures and regularly check for potential breaches.

5. General Public

   • Stay informed about common online scams related to the Olympics and how to avoid them.

   • Verify the authenticity of websites and emails claiming to offer tickets or services related to the event.

   • Report any suspicious activities to the relevant authorities promptly.

Conclusion

The 2024 Paris Olympics face significant cyber threats from a range of actors. Understanding these threats, recognizing who is at risk, and implementing robust cybersecurity measures are crucial steps in safeguarding against potential attacks. By staying vigilant and informed, all stakeholders can contribute to a secure and successful Olympic event.