Cybersecurity for 2024 Paris Olympics — new video posted to AP Newsroom

The Engineering Fountain on the Purdue University campus.

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. —

A video featuring Eugene Spafford, a professor of computer science and the executive director emeritus of the Center for Education and Research in Information Assurance and Security, or CERIAS, at Purdue University, is available at https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/Cybersecurityfor2024ParisOlympics/78a97d41e7b44e9d8f82addcedc67878.

In this video, he explains why the Olympic Games are a tempting target for cyberattacks and what defenders will need to keep in mind when running cybersecurity for this event. 

AP members can visit https://newsroom.ap.org or search the Associated Press site to download, for free, videos in the Campus Insights series. AP members may use the videos or pull quotes for print articles, broadcasts or podcasts.   

Storyline 

Eugene Spafford is a professor of computer science and the executive director emeritus of the Center for Education and Research in Information Assurance and Security, or CERIAS, at Purdue University. In this video, he explains why the Olympic Games are a tempting target for cyberattacks and what defenders will need to keep in mind when running cybersecurity for this event. Spafford says the Olympics is a worldwide event with tens of thousands of visitors. Not only do defenders need to worry about the Olympic events themselves, but they also need to protect the surrounding community; electrical power, water distribution and transportation systems; and the screening of attendees. Potential actors that may be motivated to target the Paris Games this year include the Russian Federation, Islamic terrorist groups, and various other political and environmental activists. Spafford says cybersecurity for the Olympics will be an international effort, with French authorities, the International Olympic Committee and NATO allies all contributing to the protection of the Games and surrounding community. 

About Purdue University 

Purdue University is a public research institution demonstrating excellence at scale. Ranked among top 10 public universities and with two colleges in the top four in the United States, Purdue discovers and disseminates knowledge with a quality and at a scale second to none. More than 105,000 students study at Purdue across modalities and locations, including nearly 50,000 in person on the West Lafayette campus. Committed to affordability and accessibility, Purdue’s main campus has frozen tuition 13 years in a row. See how Purdue never stops in the persistent pursuit of the next giant leap — including its first comprehensive urban campus in Indianapolis, the Mitchell E. Daniels, Jr. School of Business, Purdue Computes and the One Health initiative — at https://www.purdue.edu/president/strategic-initiatives.  

More Purdue News

Joseph Balagtas, professor of agricultural economics at Purdue University.

Food survey records consumer perceptions during government shutdown

December 10, 2025

Writer to incorporate when release is finalized; see link above for best practices for alt text

Purdue, Purdue Research Foundation mark transformative year of growth, industry partnership

December 10, 2025

Yeomans selected as next dean of Purdue’s College of Liberal Arts

December 5, 2025

Two people holding a framed award certificate with a chalkboard in the background.

Boilermaker honored with One Brick Higher Award after saving 2 lives

December 3, 2025