NCS⁴ Gameday Security - Fall 2021 Issue

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SECURITY BREACH

The biggest threat to sports and entertainment events today may be the unseen cyberattack with the potential to completely shut down a venue’s operations. IN APRIL 2021, the sports world was “rocked” when the National Basketball Association’s Houston Rockets was the victim of a cyberattack. The group attempted to install ransomware, a type of dangerous code that essentially holds data hostage. Typically, a ransom is demanded, or the attackers threaten to make the sensitive information public. In this case, the group responsible claimed it had stolen 500 gigabytes of data.

Editorial Credit: America365 | Shutterstock.com

While operations were not impacted, other teams and organizations may not be so fortunate if they don’t take the necessary precautions. “While the threats have been mostly Toyota Center, home to Houston Rockets basketball focused on data loss and sensitive information about players and finances, ransomware threats can cripple the sound and lights, interfere with concessions and put a major dent in revenue,” says Brian Finch, a cybersecurity legal expert and partner with Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman. “These cybersecurity attacks can be a real-time disruption of events and are one of the biggest threats facing sports facilities today.” The cyber attackers represent a new breed of threat for sports venue operators, according to Microsoft’s Mark McIntyre. “The cyber attackers can always stay a step ahead because they’re smart, they’re motivated because they want money or have a certain goal, and they don’t have to deal with laws or regulations, which allows them to work much

G A ME DA Y S E C UR IT Y | F A L L 2 0 21

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