First, it was the trains, and now the Internet. What is going on?
Local police reported that several long-distance fiber optic cables in France were “sabotaged” overnight, causing significant disruptions to Internet services across the country.
The perpetrators remain at large as the cat-and-mouse game between the police and criminals continues alongside the sprinting, swimming, and shot put events at the Olympic Games.
Network provider Netalis reported on X that the Internet cables were cut early Monday morning. Marina Ferrari, the junior minister for Digital Affairs, condemned the acts of sabotage, calling them “cowardly and irresponsible.”
Paris, where most Olympic events are taking place, has not been affected. It is still unclear whether the attacks were intended to disrupt the Games.
This incident comes just three days after an arson attack disrupted large sections of the French railway network, causing significant delays just hours before the Olympic Games’ opening ceremony.
The French Interior Minister suggested that the railway sabotage could be linked to far-left activists. However, it is still unknown if the police are connecting both attacks.
With millions of people gathering in Paris for the Olympic Games, authorities are on high alert for security risks, including cybercriminals. Analysts predict up to four billion cyberattacks during this year’s Games.
French intelligence services are particularly vigilant about potential attacks from Russian hackers. Russia has a history of hacking the Olympic Games, and with the country banned from participating in the Games due to its invasion of Ukraine, tensions are at an all-time high.
During the Winter Olympics in South Korea in 2018, hackers linked to Russian intelligence services disrupted the online ticketing system and cut the WiFi at the stadium during the opening ceremony.
While the Olympic Games are all about fun and competition for spectators, they also serve as a stage for a cat-and-mouse game between criminals and the police.
By: Nestor Castillo, ForAllTechNews Director