The Olympic Games should be a time of celebration, but a very modern issue is threatening to spoil the party in Rio this summer: cybercrime. Ranked 10th in the world for cybercrime in Symantec’s 2015 Internet Security Threat Report and home to notoriously lax cyber laws, Brazil has developed the unfortunate reputation of being a cybercrime hub.
A rise in cybercrime also occurred in the lead up to the London 2012 games, however experts are seeing a much larger increase in reported cyber breaches this time around. The sharp increase in transactions that take place during such a monumental event creates more chances for opportunist cybercriminals to steal personal information and credit card information.
Cybercriminals are targeting social media users in particular, and are attempting to infect devices with malware and send out phishing emails or messages. Criminals are setting up fake social media profiles that appear to be official Olympic Committee accounts, complete with recognizable logos and branding. These accounts then offer a wide range of attractive special offers, including the chance to get tickets to events and the opportunity to stream uncensored footage of the games. But, these offers are completely fake and are designed to get users to share their personal information and credit card details.
To mitigate the increased cyber risk, revellers who travel to Brazil to cheer on America’s athletes, and those supporting from home, should ensure they only visit verified Olympic accounts and only purchase event tickets from an official Olympic website.
A simple maxim for staying safe online: if it seems too good to be true, it usually is.
