Italian police foil Russian hack attempt at Eurovision 2022
According to Reuters, Russian hackers planned an attack during the semifinals and finals of Eurovision 2022 in Turin, where the Ukrainian group Kalush Orchestra emerged victorious. The Italian police successfully prevented these illegal activities, and details have now emerged.
By the decision of the European Broadcasting Union, Russia has been barred from participating in Eurovision since 2022. This was due to the country's aggression towards Ukraine. It turns out that this decision was not well received by pro-Russian hackers.
Reuters reports that in 2022, there were several attempted attacks on the network and telecommunications infrastructure of the event during the semifinals on May 11 and the finals on May 14. Millions of viewers worldwide watched the event.
The attacks could have disrupted performances and voting, which were ultimately won by the Ukrainian band, supported by judges and viewers. According to the agency, the Killnet group and the Legion gang carried out the unsuccessful offensive.
Italian police officers stated that they managed to thwart the disruptions and obtain valuable data about the attackers. This includes their geographical location and communication channel on the Telegram social media platform.
Experience in this area results from multiple hacker attacks on Italian state institutions, including the National Institute of Health and the Senate website. According to Reuters, Russia denied that the described cyber operations took place.
Will Eurovision 2025 be safe?
In 2025, both the country governed by Vladimir Putin and Belarus will not be allowed to participate in Eurovision. It cannot be ruled out that further attempts to influence the show will be made in the future.
In May, Switzerland's public broadcaster SRG SSR and the EBU will organize the contest next year. The broadcasts will occur on May 13, 15, and 17 from the St. Jakobshalle venue in Basel. Thirty-eight countries will compete, including Ukraine.
