Iran Conducts Cyber Campaign to Threaten Israeli Athletes at Paris Olympics 2024

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ICARO Media Group
Politics
25/07/2024 20h44

In a disturbing revelation, the National Cyber Directorate has announced that Iran is behind a cyber campaign aimed at intimidating members of the Israeli delegation to the Paris Olympics 2024. The investigation conducted by the Directorate revealed that hackers have been creating social media channels to publish personal information about the delegation members and sending them threatening messages.

The campaign, orchestrated by hackers posing as a French organization named GUD, has caught the attention of cybersecurity experts. The National Cyber Directorate, in collaboration with the State Attorney's Cyber Unit, is actively working to shut down these malicious channels and prevent further harm.

The safety and security of the Israeli delegation members are of paramount importance, and the Directorate is coordinating efforts with the Israeli Olympic Committee and the Security and Emergency Department of the Culture and Sports Ministry to ensure their well-being. The authorities are determined to protect the athletes and ensure they can compete without fear.

Gabi Portnoy, the head of the National Cyber Directorate, condemned Iran's actions, stating, "Iran is exploiting an apolitical international sporting competition to promote digital terrorism against Israel and its right to participate in these competitions." Such actions not only undermine the spirit of the Olympics but also pose a threat to international peace and security.

Culture and Sports Minister, Miki Zohar, expressed resilience and determination in the face of this cyber campaign. He stated, "We are witnessing attempts by the Iranian regime to intimidate Israeli athletes and carry out psychological terror against our amazing delegation. We are here in Paris, continuing with full force, and nothing will stop us."

In response to these incidents, French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal acknowledged the inevitability of cyber attacks during the Paris Olympics. He assured that France is fully committed to limiting their impact and safeguarding the integrity of the event. Attal emphasized that France's ANSSI software security agency is working diligently to counter potential cyber threats.

The technology risks faced by the Paris Olympics have already been highlighted by a recent global tech outage involving CrowdStrike. This incident disrupted broadcasting services and affected crucial sectors like healthcare and banking. It also impacted some of the organizing operations for the Paris Games, further underscoring the need for heightened cybersecurity measures.

As the countdown to the Paris Olympics continues, the focus on ensuring the safety and security of all participants has become even more critical. The collaboration between cybersecurity agencies, national committees, and international organizations will play a vital role in countering cyber threats and allowing athletes to compete with confidence.

The views expressed in this article do not reflect the opinion of ICARO, or any of its affiliates.

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