Italy Reports Russia-Origin Cyberattacks Targeting Milano Cortina Winter Olympics
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said Italy has already blocked a series of cyberattacks he described as being “of Russian origin” that targeted both Italian Foreign Ministry systems and infrastructure linked to the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics, including hotels in Cortina. He cited attacks affecting foreign ministry sites beginning with an office in Washington, D.C., but did not provide technical details on the intrusion methods, impact, or whether the activity was state-directed versus aligned pro-Russia hacktivists.
Italian media reporting indicated local authorities had prepared in advance for elevated cyber risk around the Games, including a dedicated team working with Olympic organizers’ experts to defend the event environment. The reporting also echoed broader warnings from European partners (including the UK) not to underestimate pro-Russia-aligned actors and noted Russia’s history of targeting major international sporting events, though no specific attribution beyond Tajani’s “Russian origin” characterization was provided in these accounts.
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