Cyber hackers recently hit a NASCAR team head-on. Circle Sport-Leavine Family Racing’s (CSLFR) valuable driver, course and car data were infiltrated by ransomware. The occurrence highlights the evermore concerning cybersecurity issue in professional sports.
A recent article on NASCAR.com broke the CSLFR ransomware story. Before an important race in April, crew chief Dave Winston’s computer was hacked. Vital files and information were encrypted leaving the team unable to properly prepare for the race.
The hacking was done by TeslaCrypt ransomware – a ransomware program that has since been shutdown by its founders. The team was then asked to pay a ransom in order for their encrypted data to be returned to them unscathed. Members of the CSLFR team claimed that thousands of hours worth of data they valued at over $1 million became instantly unusable.
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The team quickly paid the $500 bitcoin ransom. They were then given the information to decrypt their relatively unharmed files.
.@Malwarebytes documented our ransomware story: https://t.co/RFVzEpqJC9 #NASCAR
— CSLFR95 (@CSLFR95) June 24, 2016
Following the ransomware incident CSLFR hired the California-based anti-malware software company Malwarebytes. They helped CSLFR clean up any lingering malware from their cyber attack. Today the cybersecurity company is working to make sure this doesn’t happen to CSLFR again. Next Month Malwarebytes will become the primary sponsor of Michael McDowell’s No. 95 car.
Ransomware is exactly what its name suggests: Malware that restricts a user from accessing files or their entire operating system unless a monetary ransom is paid. The FBI estimates it has the potential to become a $1 billion a year crime industry. The United States is the most heavily affected country in the world.
Cybercrime has become a huge problem around the globe. The professional sports world is no exception, with a few high-profile instances occurring over the last several years. Just start by looking at the hacking scandal in MLB between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Houston Astros last season.
NFL Players Association recently announced they are trying to curb the prevalence of cybercrime for their members and their families. They will provide players with social media and online protective measures to keep them safe from cybersecurity threats.
A hacker declared Commissioner Roger Goodell dead from the NFL's official account https://t.co/ECkm5DWCgb pic.twitter.com/srXf1xbPrb
— The Verge (@verge) June 8, 2016
Professional sports have become very data-driven. Teams and leagues collect an incredible amount of data and the numbers are only growing. They are also often very financially lucrative making them prefect cybercrime targets.
CSLFR was unprepared to protect themselves from their ransomware breach. They were lucky to pay a small ransom and have all of their precious data recovered. Now they have taken a more proactive approach by partnering with Malwarebytes to help prevent any future cyber hacking.
Big data is here to stay in the sports world. Teams and leagues clearly must begin proactively protecting themselves from cybersecurity threats.