Organizers of this year’s Asian Games in Palembang and Jakarta have expressed their concern over the possibility of cyber-attack that might affect major events such as the opening and closing ceremony.
This concern follows the issues experienced during February’s Winter Olympic Games in Pyeongchang when a virus known as the “Olympic Destroyer” used copied software to cover its track.
The Olympic Destroyer cyber-hack took down the Wi-Fi during the Opening Ceremony at Pyeongchang Olympic Stadium on 9th February with it also affecting many broadcasts of this event by knocking out the television screen.
Moreover, it affected a number of Pyeongchang 2018 websites which left fans unable to print tickets for the event or view the results. Jakarta Palembang Chairman, Erick Thohir said that, “We do not want the incident of the Opening Ceremony delayed for an hour as happened at the opening of the Winter Olympics in South Korea.”
He further added saying, “We will be assisted by a team of 30 members from the Communications Ministry and its cyber experts. The Cyber Agency will also form a shadow team that is not under our team.”
The identity of the cyber-criminals who attacked Pyeongchang 2018 was never revealed but there were many rumors at the time that Russia and North Korea were involved in this cyber-hack.
Thohir explained that they are working with the Ministry of Communications and Informatics, State Cyber and Encryption Agency, the Indonesian Police and the Indonesian Armed force to prevent cyber-attacks. He claims that these partnerships are essential to ensure and strengthen security.
He added saying, “For example, attacks on the ticketing system, as happened during the opening of the Winter Olympics. The accreditation of journalists was also disrupted and that happened to thousands of people.”
The Asian Games are due to take place from August 18 until September 2.
