UK accuses Russia of planning cyber attacks to sabotage Tokyo Olympics

UK National Security Centre, on Monday, October 19, said that Russian military intelligence services were planning to disrupt upcoming Tokyo Olympics and Paralympic Games with malicious cyber-attacks. While disclosing a joint operation with US intelligence ncies, British officials alleged that Unit 74455 of Russia’s GRU military intelligence ncy h conducted ‘cyber reconnaissance’ operations against Games organisers, logistics suppliers and sponsors. 

According to Guardian, British officials accused  Russian military intelligence of creating fake websites and online accounts posing as key individuals for use in future hacking attempts. UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab called GRU’s actions against Olympic and Paralympic Games ‘cynical and reckless’ and said that Britain condemns m in ‘strongest possible terms’. As per reports, Raab ded that recent anuncement h been coordinated with international allies as part of an effort to ‘call out and counter’ Russia’s actions in cyber. 

latest evidence is first indication that Russia was prepared to go as far as to disrupt Tokyo Olympics. It is also latest in a string of hacking attempts against international sporting organisations by Russia, as Western cybersecurity experts, since its doping scandal erupted five years ago. Back in December, Russia was banned from world’s top sporting events, including Tokyo Games, for four years over widespre doping offences. 

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Russia attempted to disrupt 2018 winter Games: UK 

On Monday, United Kingdom, for first time, confirmed details of a previously reported Russian attempt to disrupt 2018 Winter Olympics and Paralympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea. As per reports, British officials declared, with what y described as 95 percent confidence, that disruption of both winter and summer games was carried out remotely by GRU unit 74455.

According to Britain, in South Korea, GRU’s cyber-unit h attempted to disguise itself as rth Korean and Chinese hackers when it targeted opening ceremony for 2018 event. UK officials said that GRU crashed website so spectators could t print out tickets and y even crashed wifi in stium, as reported. 

Moreover, GRU is also accused to have deployed data-deletion malware against winter games IT systems and targeted devices across South Korea using a VPN filter. British officials said that extent and persistence of cyber-activity against sporting bodies were likely to have been cleared at highest echelons of Russian state. 

(Im Credits: AP)

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