Hackers Launch Ransomware Attack Targeting Paris 2024 Olympics 

On Tuesday, the French police confirmed that the cybersecurity criminals were targeting the Paris 2024 Olympics attendees to steal their funds

As the 2024 Olympic fever intensified, the French law enforcers noted that criminals had attempted to launch a ransomware attack to compromise the financial system of French tourist sites.

In an August 6 report, the Agence France Presse (AFP)  noted that the criminals targeted multiple Museum shops in the region.

French Police Confirm 40 Museum Suffered Ransomware Attack

Even though the attack has not disrupted the ongoing olympic competition, the AFP lamented that over 40 museum shops, including the Grand Palais Museum, were hit by a ransomware attack over the weekend.

The unidentified criminals compromised the confidential financial data of the affected museum sites. A report from the French newspaper Le Parisien reveals that the hacker threatened to disclose the information if the ransom demanded was not paid within the agreed time.

Even though it’s still uncertain on the exact amount the hackers demanded, the French National Information System and Security (ANNSI) commenced the investigation to convict the criminal.

The ANNSI is expected to report its findings on the nature and damage caused by the ransomware attack. However, the French police confirmed that the attack did not affect the famous tourist center Louverck.

Hackers Take Advantage of Social Gathering

In a separate report, the Grand Palais management confirmed that all the locations were unaffected by the attack and remain operational. The group stated that no information about the Grand Palais was compromised, and the tourist venue was open to the public.

The Grand Palais currently hosts the Olympic fencing and Taekwondo games. The Grand Palais operates nearly 36 museums situated in the French Capital.

The ransomware attack was launched days after French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal issued early warnings on the possibility of witnessing a cyberattack during the 2024 Olympics.

The Prime minister noted that criminals were targeting to steal from the Olympic participants and fans. The French legislators tasked the ANSSI with a role in preventing cyberattacks.

The Prime minister’s warning echoes the cyber intelligence platform Mandiant report that predicted that the Russian hacking group would become the big threat to the Paris 2024 Olympics.

The Mandiant forecasted that the Russian hacking group would use the Olympics to launch cyber-related crimes such as scams, network interruption, espionage, and fake campaigns.

Even though the criminals have not been identified, the critics suspect that the attack was organized by either the North Korean hacking group or Russian state-organized hackers.

Factors Contributing to the Rise of Cyberattacks

A report from the director of professional service at HackerOne, Josh Jacobson, described the Grand Palais ransomware attack as quite creative but unsurprising. This shows the public expected criminals to take advantage of the Olympic event.

The executive projects that more attacks will be witnessed until the Olympics ends. Jacobson advised the Olympic officials and attendees to be vigilant to avoid failing the hacker’s trap.

Jacobson expects the number of fake ticketing platforms and misleading campaigns to increase with the Olympic hype. He predicts that criminals will use unique tactics to lure the public to their fraudulent activities.

From his observation, the official noted that the criminals only targeted individuals who seemed to satisfy their interests. Jacobson pointed out that criminals prey on individuals with critical information necessary for executing their unlawful activities. The official confirmed this was another target to steal from wealthy investors and business people.

Elsewhere, the chief technology officer at Securin Kiran Chinnagangannagari urged the Olympic officials to remain vigilant as more cyberattacks were on the horizon. The executive admitted that cybersecurity criminals have previously targeted national gatherings like the Olympic Games.

In 2021, at the Tokyo Games, experts predicted that eight to twelve attacks would be conducted during the Olympics. With the rise of cybersecurity attacks, Mr.Chinnagangannagari has called for international collaboration to protect the public from bad actors such as hacktivists, organized criminal groups, or state-sponsored criminals.

The executive noted that the Head of IT security at the Paris 2024 Olympics had highlighted the need to prevent external attacks from sabotaging the operation. Chinnagangannagari pointed out that the Olympics have invested adequate resources in training and planning to enhance security at the event.

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