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Olympic Cybercrime: Hackers Target Rio 2016

Posted: August 8, 2016 to News.

Tags: Malware, Data Breach, Compliance

With the Brazilian government mobilizing 85,000 armed soldiers and police, security at the Olympic Games in Rio is obviously a priority. Unfortunately, one of the biggest threats may not be on the ground, it may actually come from the internet. According to the cybersecurity firm Fortinet, there has been a dramatic 83% increase in malicious URLs compared to 16% for the rest of the world. Phishing attacks saw a 76% increase across the globe between April and June with Brazil, Colombia, Russia, and India being the top four country code domains to see an increase It also appears that thanks to hackers attempting to get access to Olympic credentials, Brazil was targeted by the most phishing attacks. Additionally, there has been a series of attacks on the IOC that involved a malicious domain spoofing their Intranet portal. What’s worse, of the wireless access points most likey to be used by tourists, one in four were highly vulnerable to attack. According to US counterintelligence, the Olympics are a big draw for criminals and foreign intelligence services due to the sheer number of devices on the ground. Cybercriminals in Brazil have become more sophisticated with annual losses in the country due to online fraud reaching billions of dollars. Now with nearly half a million visitors to the games, cybercriminals from around the world are also attempting to combine their efforts with their Brazilian counterparts to take advantage of the opportunity.

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About the Author

Craig Petronella, CEO and Founder of Petronella Technology Group
CEO, Founder & AI Architect, Petronella Technology Group

Craig Petronella founded Petronella Technology Group in 2002 and has spent more than 30 years working at the intersection of cybersecurity, AI, compliance, and digital forensics. He holds the CMMC Registered Practitioner credential (RP-1372) issued by the Cyber AB, is an NC Licensed Digital Forensics Examiner (License #604180-DFE), and completed MIT Professional Education programs in AI, Blockchain, and Cybersecurity. Craig also holds CompTIA Security+, CCNA, and Hyperledger certifications.

He is an Amazon #1 Best-Selling Author of 15+ books on cybersecurity and compliance, host of the Encrypted Ambition podcast (95+ episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Amazon), and a cybersecurity keynote speaker with 200+ engagements at conferences, law firms, and corporate boardrooms. Craig serves as Contributing Editor for Cybersecurity at NC Triangle Attorney at Law Magazine and is a guest lecturer at NCCU School of Law. He has served as a digital forensics expert witness in federal and state court cases involving cybercrime, cryptocurrency fraud, SIM-swap attacks, and data breaches.

Under his leadership, Petronella Technology Group has served 2,500+ clients, maintained a zero-breach record among compliant clients, earned a BBB A+ rating every year since 2003, and been featured as a cybersecurity authority on CBS, ABC, NBC, FOX, and WRAL. The company leverages SOC 2 Type II certified platforms and specializes in AI implementation, managed cybersecurity, CMMC/HIPAA/SOC 2 compliance, and digital forensics for businesses across the United States.

CMMC-RP NC Licensed DFE MIT Certified CompTIA Security+ Expert Witness 15+ Books
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