Malware Attacks Look to Disrupt Winter Olympics

Malware Attacks Look to Disrupt Winter Olympics

Cybersecurity firms are confirming that a computer malware attack dubbed "Olympic Destroyer" hit Wi-Fi systems at the Winter Games.

When it comes to securing the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, organizers are cautious of every potential attack on the Games, including cyber attacks.

Cybersecurity experts are now confirming that a malware attack has hit select networks and Wi-Fi systems at the Winter Games on Friday, the day of the Opening Ceremony. Users with a @pyeongchang2018.com email address were targeted in the attack, which lasted more than an hour on Friday night.

The Pyeongchang Organizing Committee for the 2018 Olympic & Paralympic Games confirmed the cyber attack caused a malfunction of Internet protocol televisions at the Main Press Center, according to South Korea's Yonhap News. The committee was forced to "shut down the servers to prevent further damage, leading to the closure of the Pyeongchang 2018 website."

The malware was designed to wipe computer files but "intentionally holds back from inflicting maximum damage" allowing the hacker to deliberately pull its punches.

"Instead of deleting all the files on a computer, it only deleted those related to booting up, meaning an average tech could fix it with relative ease. Researchers have never seen that sort of restraint before from that kind of malware," according to Cisco's Talos division.

The cyber experts aren't ready to point the finger at where the attack might have originated, but the countries that seem to be surfacing as suspects are Russia and North Korea. According to Wired, however, the hacker "left behind some calling card that look rather Russian."

A separate hacking operation, dubbed "Operation GoldDragon" has attempted to infect target computers belonging to South Korean Olympics-related organizations with three separate malicious tools. The spyware "would enable hackers to deeply scour the compromised computers' contents."

McAfee identifies the three malicious tools as GoldDragon, BravePrince and GHOST419.

McAfee traced the phishing scheme that provided entry for the spyware "to a remote server in the Czech Republic, registered with fake credentials to a South Korean government ministry. And they found publicly accessible logs on that remote server that showed victim machines were in fact connecting to it from South Korea, a sign of actual infections," according to Wired.

Although McAfee won't say for sure, the company's chief scientist, Raj Samani, says his working theory is that the spyware attack is a North Korean operation, according to NPR.

 

About the Author

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

Featured

  • Gaining a Competitive Edge

    Ask most companies about their future technology plans and the answers will most likely include AI. Then ask how they plan to deploy it, and that is where the responses may start to vary. Every company has unique surveillance requirements that are based on market focus, scale, scope, risk tolerance, geographic area and, of course, budget. Those factors all play a role in deciding how to configure a surveillance system, and how to effectively implement technologies like AI. Read Now

  • 6 Ways Security Awareness Training Empowers Human Risk Management

    Organizations are realizing that their greatest vulnerability often comes from within – their own people. Human error remains a significant factor in cybersecurity breaches, making it imperative for organizations to address human risk effectively. As a result, security awareness training (SAT) has emerged as a cornerstone in this endeavor because it offers a multifaceted approach to managing human risk. Read Now

  • The Stage is Set

    The security industry spans the entire globe, with manufacturers, developers and suppliers on every continent (well, almost—sorry, Antarctica). That means when regulations pop up in one area, they often have a ripple effect that impacts the entire supply chain. Recent data privacy regulations like GDPR in Europe and CPRA in California made waves when they first went into effect, forcing businesses to change the way they approach data collection and storage to continue operating in those markets. Even highly specific regulations like the U.S.’s National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) can have international reverberations – and this growing volume of legislation has continued to affect global supply chains in a variety of different ways. Read Now

  • Access Control Technology

    As we move swiftly toward the end of 2024, the security industry is looking at the trends in play, what might be on the horizon, and how they will impact business opportunities and projections. Read Now

Featured Cybersecurity

Webinars

New Products

  • 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. 3

  • Connect ONE’s powerful cloud-hosted management platform provides the means to tailor lockdowns and emergency mass notifications throughout a facility – while simultaneously alerting occupants to hazards or next steps, like evacuation.

    Connect ONE®

    Connect ONE’s powerful cloud-hosted management platform provides the means to tailor lockdowns and emergency mass notifications throughout a facility – while simultaneously alerting occupants to hazards or next steps, like evacuation. 3

  • 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. 3