Just like Olympic athletes, the cyber warriors critical to the success of the Paris Games are training hard for the big event.
They have come to rely on friendly hackers to probe their cyber defenses, much like boxers who use sparring partners to prepare for championship fights.
They studied and analyzed their opponents' strengths, tactics, and weaknesses. They could be anything from a group of teenage showboats and ransomware gangs to Russian military hackers with a track record of malicious cyberattacks.
But unlike the 10,500 Olympic athletes who will gather in the French capital in July, the cybersecurity engineers behind the Games prefer to stay out of the spotlight.
For them, the equivalent of a medal is completing the Olympic and Paralympic Games without any major accidents.
That will mean their digital defense layers will withstand attempts to cripple the computers and information systems essential to the tournament.
“My dream for the Olympics is that technology and cybersecurity aren't talked about, because that means it's not an issue,” said Jeremy Couture, head of the Paris Organizing Committee's Cybersecurity Hub. Told.
Those responsible for preventing cyberattacks during the Games are reluctant to divulge many details about their work, but malicious hackers are sure to keep them busy this summer.
They can range from cybercriminals to thrill-seeking teenage troublemakers to Russian military intelligence agents with a track record of damaging cyberattacks.
Vincent Strubel, head of France's National Cyber Security Agency, known by its French acronym ANSSI, said the level of cyber threats facing the Games was unprecedented.
“There will be cyberattacks during the Olympic and Paralympic Games,” Strubel said at a press conference on Friday. “Some people won't take it seriously. Some of them are serious, but they won't affect the Olympics. And there are probably some serious ones that could affect the Olympics. ”
He said things will go well because authorities are “extremely” better trained than ever. “I think we were able to stay one step ahead of the offensive line.”
Strubel cited Russia as an actor that has attacked France “a little bit repeatedly” but said there was no point in focusing on any one actor. “We are prepared for anything.”
