2LT International News

PARIS, France: Organizers of the Paris Olympics in 2024 have turned to friendly hackers to probe their cyber defenses and analyze the strengths, tactics, and weaknesses of potential hackers, which could be anyone from teenager thrill-seekers and ransomware gangs to Russian military hackers.

Jrmy Couture, who heads the Paris Games organizers’ cybersecurity hub, said, “My dream for the Olympics is that technology and cybersecurity are not talked about, because that will mean it was a non-issue.”

Targets could include critical infrastructure, such as transport networks or supply chains, as well as the Games themselves.

Attackers could include “hacktivists” who aim to make a political statement, extortionists wanting ransom payments, and countries wishing to embarrass France and the International Olympic Committee. Russia leads the list of suspects.

Due to its invasion of Ukraine, Olympic organizers have banned Russia from competing in team events at the Paris Games. They will only allow some individual Russians to compete as neutrals.

Moscow has also criticized France for supplying Ukraine with weapons and military training.

At a briefing on Friday, Vincent Strubel, head of France’s national cybersecurity agency, ANSSI, said the level of cyber threats facing the Games was unprecedented.

“There will be cyberattacks during the Games and the Paralympics. Some won’t be serious. Some will be serious but won’t have an impact on the Games. And perhaps there will be some that are serious and liable to have an impact on the Games,” Strubel said.

While Russia was among the actors who attacked France “a bit recurrently,” Strubel stressed, focusing on one particular actor made no sense.

“We are preparing for everything,” he said.