The French government cyber security agency has warned that ransomware attacks are likely to occur during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. With the Games set to begin on July 26, officials have been preparing for a variety of cyber threats that could come from criminal groups, state actors, hacktivists, or gamblers. Anssi, the government cyber security agency, has expressed confidence in their ability to cope with these attacks but acknowledges that it may be unrealistic to prevent all of them.
Ransomware attacks involve exploiting security vulnerabilities to encrypt and block computer systems, with the attackers demanding a ransom to unlock them. Anssi’s goal is to ensure that most attacks fail and to react quickly and effectively to those that cannot be avoided in order to limit their impact. Responsibility for fending off these attacks primarily falls on Anssi and the interior ministry, with support from the cyber defence arm of the defence ministry (Comcyber).
The Olympic Games have frequently been targeted by cyber attacks in the past, with the pandemic-delayed Tokyo Olympics in 2021 experiencing a reported 450 million operations, twice as many as the 2012 London Olympics. Marie-Rose Bruno, director of technology and information systems for the Paris games, anticipates an even greater number of cyber attacks during the upcoming Games. Anssi also warns of potential denial-of-service attacks from activist groups looking to use the Olympics as a platform to promote their causes.
The agency notes that while these activist groups may create noise and generate buzz through denial-of-service attacks, they are not likely to have a long-term destructive effect. Despite the inevitability of ransomware attacks and other cyber threats, Anssi remains committed to preventing as many attacks as possible and responding effectively to those that do occur. The agency’s preparations reflect the increasing importance of cybersecurity in ensuring the smooth and secure operation of major international events like the Olympic Games.
