It’s no secret that the 2016 Summer Olympics are plagued with problems. Although it’s easy to get wrapped up in talk of the Zika virus, Dilma Rousseff’s impeachment and incomplete construction, everyone’s eyes—whether in Brazil or from afar—need to be focused on the many ways the Games will be leveraged to compromise innocent individuals’ cybersecurity. Take note of:1. Malicious Links: Excited to bet on the women’s soccer finals, rewatch the 400m IM swim or receive an invitation to participate in an Olympics ticket lottery? So are hackers. The Games are probably prompting you to spend more time online and in your inbox, but don’t let them distract you from safe browsing practices. Remember: no one can make you click on a malicious link without your consent.
2. Smartphone Theft: An iPhone 6 is 156% more expensive in Brazil than in the United States. If you are taking yours to Rio, keep it in sight or you might not see it again.
3. Public Wi-Fi: Where there are tourists, there is public Wi-Fi and the Olympics are no exception. Insecure Wi-Fi should be avoided at all costs, especially near stadiums and hotels, where hackers lay in wait. When using password-protected public Wi-Fi, be sure to also login to your SumRando VPN and to save any sensitive transactions for home.
4. ATM and Point-of-Sale Machines: One swipe is all a hacker needs to steal your information. Try to minimize transactions, especially if you lack the added security of a “chip” (EMV-backed) card.
5. Terrorist Recruitment: ISIS has begun producing online propaganda in Portuguese in an attempt to recruit Portuguese speakers. What this could mean for the Olympics is anyone’s guess.
Friday, August 5 marks the opening ceremonies of the 2016 Summer Olympics. Do your part to make it a safe and secure event to remember.
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