No matter where you live in the world, our love of sports is something that ties us all together. Cricket, soccer, football, tennis, and many other sports draw hundreds of millions of spectators across the world and billions of dollars in ticket sales, merchandising, and more. Unfortunately, this makes sporting events, and especially large sporting events, the target of cyber criminals.
In our latest webinar, our Principal Security Architect Bryant Rump, and our Cyber Threat Intelligence Analyst Richard Wallace discuss the cyber threat landscape against major sporting events and their observations of 2023 Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attack trends as well as their predictions for what the DDoS landscape might look like in 2024.
DDoS attacks and sporting events.
In recent years, the threat of DDoS attacks on major sporting events has been steadily increasing, posing a significant risk to the organizations and businesses involved in hosting and sponsoring these events. The rise of hacktivist groups and the use of sophisticated attack tactics have made it clear that DDoS attacks are a serious concern for the sports industry and adjacent verticals.
One of the defining characteristics of DDoS attacks on major sporting events is their ability to disrupt essential services such as ticketing, live streaming, official event websites, and even the websites of event sponsors. These attacks often target the infrastructure supporting these services, causing widespread disruption and inconvenience for fans, sponsors, and organizers. The financial implications of such disruptions can be substantial, with significant losses in revenue and reputation.
Motivations for cyber attacks on sporting events.
The motivations behind these attacks are diverse, ranging from geopolitical disputes to financial gain. Hacktivist groups often leverage major sporting events as a platform to make political statements or to disrupt the operations of organizations they oppose. Additionally, the growing popularity of sports betting and the reliance on online platforms have made these services lucrative targets for cybercriminals seeking financial gain through ransomware and data theft.
Looking ahead to 2024, it is likely that the trend of DDoS attacks on major sporting events will continue.
The geopolitical landscape and the rise of hacktivist groups make it probable that these events will remain targets for disruptive cyber-attacks. With the upcoming Olympics, the potential for increased targeting is a cause for concern given the historical patterns of attacks coinciding with major international events.
Defending against crippling DDoS attacks.
To mitigate the growing threat of DDoS attacks on major sporting events, organizations must prioritize the implementation of robust security measures. This includes investing in advanced DDoS detection and mitigation solutions, as well as maintaining up-to-date incident response runbooks. Regular DDoS onramp and mitigation exercises and monitoring of network infrastructure are essential to identify and address changes in architecture, technologies, and runbooks.
Furthermore, collaboration and information sharing among industry stakeholders, law enforcement, and cybersecurity experts are vital to combating the escalating threat of DDoS attacks. By pooling resources and expertise, organizations can strengthen their collective defenses and develop proactive strategies to prevent and respond to potential attacks.
Proactive defense is key.
The increasing prevalence of DDoS attacks on major sporting events presents a significant challenge for the sports industry. The potential for financial losses, reputational damage, and disruption to essential services underscores the importance of proactive cybersecurity measures.
By acknowledging the evolving threat landscape and taking action to bolster defenses, organizations can mitigate the risks posed by DDoS attacks and safeguard the integrity of major sporting events — and continue delivering these exciting events we’ve come to know and love!
To learn more about how bad actors are targeting major sporting events with DDoS attacks, check out the recording of this webinar.
