2012 London Olympics could face cyber attack

2012 London Olympics could face ‘blended’ physical, cyber attack: Security expert.

A British cyber security expert has warned that terrorists could use a “blended attack” to hit both physical targets and disrupt cyber systems simultaneously during the 2012 London Olympics.

Professor Peter Sommer, of the London School of Economics, warned that computer security would be extremely important during the Games.

“There is what’s called a ‘blended attack’, so there is a physical attack, but it’s made easier because someone is disrupting cyber systems at the same time, so that is the sort of scenario that people have got to worry about,” Sky News quoted Sommer, as saying.

The warning propels the threat highlighted by former Home Secretary David Blunkett, who had warned the Gordon Brown Government that the Games could face a cyber attack.

Blunkett had earlier stressed that terrorists could use sophisticated hacking to trigger the “complete meltdown” of computer and communications systems or disrupt ticketing, accommodation and transport arrangements.

The Labour MP for Sheffield Brightside had highlighted that such an attack would be “economically and commercially devastating”.

He had also urged for a coordinated approach between the government and the security experts to ensure a safe and secure Games.

London Olympics could face cyber attack: David Blunkett

Former Home Secretary David Blunkett is likely to warn the Gordon Brown Government that the 2012 Olympic games in London could face a cyber attack.

Terrorists could use sophisticated hacking to trigger the “complete meltdown” of computer and communications systems or disrupt ticketing, accommodation and transport arrangements, Blunkett will say in a speech to an information security conference, The Telegraph said.

The Labour MP for Sheffield Brightside will tell delegates that such an attack would be “economically and commercially devastating” but that systems exist to block it.

He wants to see a coordinated approach between Government, security experts and business to ensure that Britain is safe and secure.

During his opening address to the Infosec annual conference at London’s Olympia on Tuesday, Blunkett will say that there is a “woeful level of awareness” of the threat of cyber attack, organised crime and online fraud.

Warning that the threat posed by organised criminals engaging in sophisticated fraud is comparable to the danger from more traditional forms of terrorism, Blunkett will spell out the threat.