Arizona Cyber Command prepares for ‘worst case scenario’ at Super Bowl

GLENDALE, AZ (3TV/CBS 5) – For a number of hours in February, State Farm Stadium in Glendale will really feel like the middle of the universe. Two groups will battle it out on the gridiron to cement their place in Tremendous Bowl historical past. Soccer followers will likely be watching. Sadly, dangerous guys could also be, too. “These attackers are very artistic,” stated Tim Roemer, the Arizona Division of Homeland Safety director. Roemer famous there are at present no credible cyber safety threats to the Tremendous Bowl particularly. Nonetheless, he stated there’s a workforce of individuals on excessive alert working to guard the large sport, which is a horny goal.

“With regards to excessive profile occasions, hackers suppose, ‘If I am going after extra excessive profile occasion, I’ll receives a commission,’” Roemer instructed On Your Aspect. “That’s why they go after them.” It’s additionally why the state’s Cyber Command is consistently testing for vulnerabilities. “We stroll by way of a worst case state of affairs, how we might get better from it, how we might rapidly react to ensure minimal influence,” Roemer added. “The Tremendous Bowl is not any completely different than our day by day life. The worst factor that may occur is to go after vital infrastructure, so going after energy, going after water. Issues like that can at all times have the most important impact.”

A hacker might nonetheless trigger chaos with out focusing on that vital infrastructure. Right here’s a potential state of affairs. It’s sport day. Followers are right here. They’ve spent 1000’s of {dollars} on this once-in-a-lifetime expertise. What occurs if the ticketing app is hit and nobody can get into the sport, or concessions go down and nobody should purchase meals and drinks? What occurs if the stadium lights exit or the scoreboard or TV broadcast is hacked? “We stroll by way of all of the situations. That’s useful for our workforce and everyone concerned. I can inform you cyber safety has a seat on the desk relating to the Tremendous Bowl this time round, which is implausible,” Roemer stated. “We’re not an afterthought. We’re considered being one of the crucial vital parts to this total occasion.”

In keeping with Roemer, there’s additionally training taking place for third-party distributors who’ve contracts with the Tremendous Bowl. Cyber safety specialists are often reminding individuals to not click on on doubtlessly malicious hyperlinks and to keep away from posting an excessive amount of info on social media. If individuals publish about jobs which can be linked to the large sport, hackers know to go after you with phishing emails that would open the door to a cyber assault.

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