France's OFAC cybercrime unit has been asked to remove leaked personal data of several Israeli athletes competing in the Paris Olympic Games from social media. This follows a cyberattack in which sensitive information, including blood test results and login credentials, was published on Telegram on Friday. The incident is being classified as a doxing cyberattack, targeting Israeli athletes amid concerns over potential threats to their safety during the Games.
This breach followed another incident on Thursday where hackers disclosed personal information revealing the military status of Israeli athletes on social media.
In response, Pharos, a platform dedicated to reporting unlawful online content, has urged OFAC to remove the athletes' details.
Israel has raised concerns about potential threats during the Paris Olympics. On Thursday, Israel warned France of possible attacks by Iran-backed groups targeting Israeli individuals during the Games. Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz addressed these concerns in a letter to his French counterpart.
"We currently have assessments of potential threats from Iranian terror affiliates and other terrorist organisations aiming to carry out terror attacks against members of the Israeli delegation and Israeli tourists during the Olympics," AFP quoted Katz from the letter .
France has taken measures to ensure the safety of the Olympics, deploying around 18,000 troops in addition to the regular police force. This comprehensive security operation began on Friday and will conclude on August 11.
The threats against the Israeli delegation are not limited to doxing. The Israeli embassy has accused Iran of orchestrating a cyber-campaign to intimidate the Israeli athletes and delegation by sending social media threats.
In an address to the US Congress on Wednesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called for a global alliance against what he termed the Iranian “axis of terror.”
Israel remains particularly vigilant following the cyber incidents and is working closely with French authorities to mitigate any potential risks during the Games. The security measures are part of a broader effort to ensure the safety of all participants and visitors to the Paris Olympic Games, amid heightened concerns of possible attacks by Iran-backed groups.
