When nations converge for large-scale events, political tensions often escalate. Hacktivist groups, fueled by these conflicts, seize the opportunity to express their views—often through cyber-attacks.
While motivations vary—from political dissent and nationalism to environmental activism and social justice, the purpose stays the same. These attacks are not mere acts of vandalism; they are strategic maneuvers aimed at disrupting systems and spreading propaganda. Hacktivists exploit the chaos surrounding major events. Whether it is the Eurovision contest, the UEFA European Championship, the Olympic Games, or other global gatherings, they leverage the heightened attention to amplify their messages and brand awareness.
In the weeks leading up to an event, hacktivist groups issue warnings, signaling their intent. They may deface websites or launch distributed DDoS attacks with a clear goal: to disrupt the status quo and draw attention to their cause.
Take this year’s Eurovision contest, for example. Amidst political turmoil—Sweden joining NATO, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and calls to boycott Israel due to the Gaza conflict—cyber threats emerged. The Russian Cyber Army Team targeted the Eurovision shopping site, while Darkmeta, a pro-Russian actor, attacked Swedish transportation. (Figure X+Y).
Figure X+Y: Telegram posts for the attackers claiming responsibilities for the attacks targeting the Eurovision’s assets.
The same goes for the European football games where many efforts have been invested to disrupt the games. According to Reuters publications: “Hackers hit Poland Euro 2024 match broadcast in second attack”. A DDoS attack was responsible for blocking fans from watching the transmission for a large part of the game. Dark Reading has also published: “Euro 2024 Becomes Latest Sporting Event to Attract Cyberattacks” mentioning Cybercriminals are selling credentials linked to the tournament on underground markets, and some geopolitics playing out in DDoS attacks. (Figure Z)
Figure Z: The UEFA European Football Championship.
The impact is far-reaching. Governments, corporations, and critical infrastructure become vulnerable targets. The digital battleground extends beyond borders, blurring the lines between physical and virtual warfare.
With the Olympic Games coming up, the threat is only intensifying. When Japan hosted the Olympic games in 2020 it became the most cyber attacked country in the world for that year. Although it sustained over 450 million attempts of cyber attacks on the game's infrastructure, many Japanese organizations that are not as much in the spotlight, were highly attacked over that period of time. (Figure W) It shows that as much as we invest to protect the games’ infrastructures, regional organizations should not be overlooked.
FFigure W: 450 million attempts of cyber attacks on the game's infrastructure in Japan.
As nations prepare for the next global spectacle, cybersecurity professionals must remain vigilant. Strengthening defenses, monitoring threats, and collaborating across borders are essential to safeguarding our interconnected world.
So, the next time you watch the opening ceremony or cheer for your favorite athletes, remember that behind the scenes, hacktivists are waging their own silent war—one where lines are coded, and victories are measured in compromised systems.
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