Stay Safe: Cyber Security In The Spotlight At G2E Vegas
Given the spate of recent ransomware attacks on gambling giants MGM Resorts and Caesars Entertainment, it’s little surprise to hear that cyber security will be at the very top of the agenda of the Global Gaming Expo, G2E, opening in Las Vegas on Monday (October 9-12).
Details remain sketchy and rumours continue to swirl, but what is certain is that first Caesars and then MGM computer networks were penetrated with extreme prejudice by the “Scattered Spider” cyber criminal gang working in tandem with digital outlaws ALPHV/BlackCat last month, September.
According to unsubstantiated stories on social media, principally Elon Musk’s X, formerly Twitter, Caesars paid the cyber bandits US$30 million in ransomware.
And MGM gambling operations at their Bellagio, Aria, Cosmopolitan and Excalibur casinos on the storied Vegas Strip were also thrown into chaos following a pre-emptive digital security shut-down.
The cyber attack, or threat of attack, forced the company to shut down a major part of its network operating systems, impacting slot machines, electronic room keys at their hotels and payment protocols.
Chaos
“It was,” posted one visitor to The Strip on social media, “absolute chaos.”
Both the FBI and the state regulatory Nevada Gaming Control Board have confirmed that they are investigating the digital security breaches.
“The threat to the data, infrastructure and digital security of companies in the betting and gaming industry has never been higher,” Michael Tobin, Founder and CEO of IT service management experts Continent 8 Technologies, told iGamingFuture.
“The scale and sophistication of these attacks is increasing year-on-year.
“So it’s critically important that organisations take a multi-layered approach to cybersecurity, protecting themselves from the mix of complex threats facing businesses in today’s world.
“What’s also important is ensuring your business is compliant, meeting stringent regulatory requirements across different markets.”
Founded 25-years-ago, the security pathfinders, self-evidently, are fielding a big presence at G2E, which–coincidentally–is also being held on the 20th anniversary of the traditional October Cybersecurity Awareness Month.
Patrick Gardner, Managing Partner of C8 Secure, a Continent 8 company, further elaborated:
“With the average cost of a data breach reaching well into millions, and the gaming industry being a prime target, it’s crucial now more than ever for companies to bolster their cybersecurity measures.
Data Protection
“Both the online and land-based sectors must remain vigilant and proactive, ensuring protection of their data and infrastructure against increasingly evolving threats.”
Established in 1998, Continent 8 boasts a network that spans 100 data-centre locations across four continents.
The company provides a myriad of technology infrastructure and connectivity solutions to prominent entities in the iGaming industry through a singular, interconnected network.
Added Gardner: “iGaming platforms are becoming progressively interlaced with intricate technological frameworks [so] cybersecurity emanates as a pivotal concern.
“[It] demands a coherent and robust response from industry stakeholders.
“Collaborative initiatives and discussions stemming from events like G2E accentuate a collective drive towards navigating and mitigating these digital challenges, ensuring the continuity and integrity of iGaming operations on a global scale.”
Stay safe.
