Winter Olympics Security Scrutinized Less than a Month Before Games Start

Winter Olympics Security Scrutinized Less than a Month Before Games Start

The security of the Winter Olympics is analyzed just days before the Games kick off in Pyeongchang.

  • By Sydny Shepard
  • Jan 18, 2018

With just less than a month until the Winter Olympics start in Pyeongchang, South Korea many are scrutinizing the security of the event given the high tensions with neighboring North Korea, which has conducted over a dozen ballistic missile tests in the past year.

South Korea began beefing up their security ahead of the Winter Olympics. Gen. Jeong Kyeong-doo, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) affirmed that the military will provide "maximum support" for the success of the event to open next month. The defense ministry plans to deploy approximately 5,000 armed forces to the Games. Hundreds of armed personnel have already participated in security drills in front of the Pyeongchang Olympic Stadium to prepare against terror attacks, according to Reuters.

Kyeong-doo called for his troops to be alert against the treat of terror attacks by ISIS and other international terror organizations. South Korea has identified and deported at least "17 foreigners who could potentially pose a terrorist menace to the Olympics."

In addition to physical security, the Winter Olympics is also looking to bolster its cybersecurity following a report by cybersecurity firm McAfee that found malware-infected emails were sent last month to organizations linked to the Games.

The emails were sent from a Singapore IP address and told readers to open a text document in Korean. McAfee said the hackers were trying to trick recipients into believing the emails had come from South Korea's Nation Counter-Terrorism Center, which at the time was in the process of conducting anti-terror drill in the region.

The report did not say who was responsible, but did say that more attacks like these would be likely during the games.

 

About the Author

Sydny Shepard is the Executive Editor of Campus Security & Life Safety.

Featured

  • Report: 47 Percent of Security Service Providers Are Not Yet Using AI or Automation Tools

    Trackforce, a provider of security workforce management platforms, today announced the launch of its 2025 Physical Security Operations Benchmark Report, an industry-first study that benchmarks both private security service providers and corporate security teams side by side. Based on a survey of over 300 security professionals across the globe, the report provides a comprehensive look at the state of physical security operations. Read Now

    • Guard Services

  • Identity Governance at the Crossroads of Complexity and Scale

    Modern enterprises are grappling with an increasing number of identities, both human and machine, across an ever-growing number of systems. They must also deal with increased operational demands, including faster onboarding, more scalable models, and tighter security enforcement. Navigating these ever-growing challenges with speed and accuracy requires a new approach to identity governance that is built for the future enterprise. Read Now

  • Eagle Eye Networks Launches AI Camera Gun Detection

    Eagle Eye Networks, a provider of cloud video surveillance, recently introduced Eagle Eye Gun Detection, a new layer of protection for schools and businesses that works with existing security cameras and infrastructure. Eagle Eye Networks is the first to build gun detection into its platform. Read Now

  • Report: AI is Supercharging Old-School Cybercriminal Tactics

    AI isn’t just transforming how we work. It’s reshaping how cybercriminals attack, with threat actors exploiting AI to mass produce malicious code loaders, steal browser credentials and accelerate cloud attacks, according to a new report from Elastic. Read Now

  • Pragmatism, Productivity, and the Push for Accountability in 2025-2026

    Every year, the security industry debates whether artificial intelligence is a disruption, an enabler, or a distraction. By 2025, that conversation matured, where AI became a working dimension in physical identity and access management (PIAM) programs. Observations from 2025 highlight this turning point in AI’s role in access control and define how security leaders are being distinguished based on how they apply it. Read Now

Most   Popular

New Products

  • AC Nio

    AC Nio

    Aiphone, a leading international manufacturer of intercom, access control, and emergency communication products, has introduced the AC Nio, its access control management software, an important addition to its new line of access control solutions.

  • PE80 Series

    PE80 Series by SARGENT / ED4000/PED5000 Series by Corbin Russwin

    ASSA ABLOY, a global leader in access solutions, has announced the launch of two next generation exit devices from long-standing leaders in the premium exit device market: the PE80 Series by SARGENT and the PED4000/PED5000 Series by Corbin Russwin. These new exit devices boast industry-first features that are specifically designed to provide enhanced safety, security and convenience, setting new standards for exit solutions. The SARGENT PE80 and Corbin Russwin PED4000/PED5000 Series exit devices are engineered to meet the ever-evolving needs of modern buildings. Featuring the high strength, security and durability that ASSA ABLOY is known for, the new exit devices deliver several innovative, industry-first features in addition to elegant design finishes for every opening.

  • QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC)

    QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC)

    The latest Qualcomm® Vision Intelligence Platform offers next-generation smart camera IoT solutions to improve safety and security across enterprises, cities and spaces. The Vision Intelligence Platform was expanded in March 2022 with the introduction of the QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC), which delivers superior artificial intelligence (AI) inferencing at the edge.