Hackers Among New Threats To Rio Games Visitors
SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) -- As if the Zika virus, terrorism, and contaminated water weren't enough to worry about for those headed to the summer Olympic Games in Rio, tech experts now have a word of warning for travelers taking smartphones and tables with them.
Hackers are targeting everyone, all the time. So what makes the Rio Olympics so special?
"Often government (officials) and wealthy people are going to attend them in person. Secondly, there are attacks that can only be launched when you're physically near the attacker," John Pescatore, Director of Emerging Security Trends at the SANS Institute told KCBS.
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In fact, anytime you travel abroad, just assure your personal information is going to be breached. So, experts recommend being careful with public Wi-Fi networks. A hacker can pretend to be a Wi-Fi network and eavesdrop on everything you do. Minimize your gear, and don't leave your electronics unlocked in your hotel room. Locking up a tablet or laptop in the hotel safe can also be a secure way to store them. And, it's smart to back up everything before you leave home.
"We always do see an increase in what we call hacktivism – politically motivated attacks whenever there's a big, high visibility event," Pescatore said.
