Japan will take steps to guard against Olympics cyberattacks

Japan mentioned on Tuesday it could take countermeasures to make sure subsequent yr’s Tokyo Olympics will not be derailed by cyberattacks after Britain and the United States accused Russia of orchestrating efforts to disrupt the Games.

Olympics organisers reported no important impression on their operations for the 2020 Games, which had been postponed till subsequent yr as a result of COVID-19 pandemic.

Britain and the United States on Monday condemned what they mentioned had been a sequence of malicious cyberattacks orchestrated by Russian navy intelligence, together with makes an attempt to disrupt the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics.

Japanese chief cupboard secretary Katsunobu Kato declined to provide particulars however mentioned Japan would make each effort to guard the Games from doable hacking makes an attempt.

“We cannot turn a blind eye to malicious cyberattacks that threaten democracy,” Kato informed a information convention, including that Japan was gathering and analysing info and in shut contact with Britain and the United States.

“The Olympics are a major international event that attract attention, and cybersecurity measures are extremely important.”

British officers mentioned on Monday the hackers from Russia’s GRU navy intelligence company had additionally performed “cyber reconnaissance” operations towards Tokyo Games organisers.

They declined to provide particular particulars concerning the newest assaults or say whether or not they had been profitable however mentioned they’d focused Games organisers, logistics suppliers and sponsors.

The organising committee mentioned in a press release they’d already made in depth cybersecurity preparations and that there had been little disruption to its platforms.

“While we have constantly monitored various types of cyberattack on the digital platforms owned by Tokyo 2020, no significant impact has been observed in our operations,” spokesman Masa Takaya mentioned.

Olympic sponsor Panasonic Corp mentioned in a press release they had been strengthening their world monitoring efforts, including, “We did not detect any evidence of an attack.”

A consultant for fellow sponsor Toyota Motor Corp declined to remark.

A string of hacking makes an attempt have been performed towards worldwide sporting organisations which Western officers and cybersecurity consultants say had been orchestrated by Russia since its doping scandal erupted 5 years in the past.

Moscow has repeatedly denied the allegations.

Russia was banned from the world’s high sporting occasions for 4 years in December over widespread doping offences, together with the Tokyo Games.

An International Olympic Committee (IOC) spokesman mentioned cybersecurity was considered one of their priorities.

“The IOC and the Organising Committees of the Olympic Games have identified cyber security as a priority area and invest a lot to offer the Olympic Games the best cyber security environment possible,” the spokesman informed Reuters in an e-mail.

“Given the nature of the topic, we do not divulge those measures.”