May 4, 2024 at 07:57AM
Cyberwarriors training for Paris Games rely on friendly hackers to test defenses. Unlike athletes, they seek to avoid attention, aiming for a flawless event. Amid concerns about potential cyberattacks from various actors, preparations for cybersecurity are deemed crucial, with particular attention paid to previous incidents and ongoing threats, especially from Russia.
The meeting notes highlight the intense preparations and concerns around cybersecurity for the upcoming Paris Games. Cyberwarriors are training rigorously and working with friendly hackers to probe their defenses, while carefully analyzing potential threats from various actors, including cybercriminals, state-sponsored operatives, and even countries with a history of offensive hacking. The goal is to ensure that the digital defenses can withstand any attempts to disrupt vital computer and information systems during the Games.
The cybersecurity engineers behind the Games aim to operate discreetly, with their success measured by the absence of cyber incidents during the event. Vincent Strubel from France’s national cybersecurity agency emphasized the unprecedented level of cyberthreats facing the Games, acknowledging the likelihood of cyberattacks but expressing confidence in the agency’s readiness to stay ahead of potential attackers.
The notes also mention the specific concern about Russia’s cyber capabilities, given its past actions in disrupting major events like the 2018 Winter Games in Pyeongchang. The Paris cybersecurity teams have sought insights from technicians who worked on previous events to learn from those experiences.
The preparations have been generally positively assessed by cybersecurity firm Outpost24, although they noted some gaps in the Games’ online infrastructure. Overall, there is a clear awareness of the potential risks from increased online traffic towards the Paris 2024 games and the need to remain vigilant against cyber threats.