Ross Rustici, Cybereason’s senior director of intelligence services, is predicting a dramatic increase in nefarious cyber hackings surrounding the 24th Winter Olympics beginning on February 9 in South Korea. Rustici has provided his predictions in an informative, new report released today and available here: https://www.cybereason.com/blog/what-cybersecurity-activities-may-occur-at-the-winter-olympics
The recent spear phishing campaign targeting many organizations involved in the Winter games is likely just the tip of a very large iceberg. South Korean officials will have their hands full from February 9-February 25 dealing with threat actors and nation states that target athletes, sponsors, broadcast networks, international delegations and tourists.
The biggest Olympic cyber threats will come from the following groups:
RUSSIA
The Russians are a big threat at the Winter Games as the recent banning of Russian athletes from competing in the games will further fan the flames of this country playing a big role in cyber activity.
NON-STATE THREAT ACTORS
The biggest threat of cyber hacking will come from non-state actors looking to make a name for themselves on the big stage in Pyeongchang. The Olympic Games are a great venue for their personal cause, whether it’s personal fame, the propaganda of a political message or harm for a political purpose. So look out because these threats are hard to categorize because these groups are the hardest to model accurately.
ORGANIZED CRIME GROUPS
A burgeoning threat to the Winter Olympics is organized crime. Match fixing, traditional point shaving and judging scandals have always been a concern in the Olympics. With the parallel increase in gambling and the use of technology in the Olympics, there is increasing economic incentive to manipulate the outcome of events.
While the following group, contrary to other beliefs, poses no threat:
NORTH KOREA
In stunning fashion, the North and South Koreans brokered an agreement earlier this week to attend the Winter Games as a unified nation, under one flag. This development moves North Korea from being the Winter Games’ biggest disruptive cyber threat to a complete non-factor. There is now zero chance the North Koreans carry out any attacks as a result of their newfound status.
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