Modern global sporting events are not only a world stage for competing national teams: they are increasingly an arena for a wide range of online attackers. The 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia presents opportunities for cyber threat actors looking to exploit the unique conditions such an event creates. Threats surrounding sporting events are nothing new, but in recent years cyber threats in particular have intensified. For example, the 2012 Summer Olympics in London reportedly suffered six major cyber attacks with little public impact, whereas the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics was impacted publicly downing broadcaster drones and taking offline the official website.
