Tackling Threats at Super Bowl 51

McAfee

Feb 03, 2017

3 MIN READ

When it comes to the Super Bowl, football and food are the first things that come to mind—not cyberthreats. But what fans don’t know is that while they’re dialing into the game, cybercriminals are dialing up the threats, trying to capitalize on people’s distraction. Surprisingly enough, this goes for both at home and on the field, as cybercriminals continue their ceaseless charge towards finding new opportunities for attack.

For example, at last year’s Super Bowl 50, a potential 100,000 cyberthreats were discovered on the wireless network at Levi’s Stadium. That means all attendees connecting to that network were potentially susceptible without even knowing it. Luckily, a security team was able to remove the main suspect after monitoring activity in the area. But the potential of this kind of threat surfacing at an event of such scale is scary enough in itself.

And if you’re not one of the lucky few that gets to make it to the game in person, remember to be mindful of how you stream it. While streaming the game online sounds like a solid option, especially with 1 in 7 Americans cord-cutting (saying good-bye to cable), some streaming sites host malware, and demand information from users that can compromise devices and private data.

Additionally, even some of the most trusted streaming sites can be victims of the fake apps trend, the most recent one of these apps masking itself as Netflix. However, instead of containing your favorite TV shows, it contained malware.

So whether you are streaming the game, buying last-minute tickets, or refreshing fantasy stats while sitting on the couch at your friend’s house, it’s more important than ever to protect and secure the information that matters most.

Here are a few tips, to help you do just that:

Fans at the game: stay alert of your devices. Don’t connect to a network you don’t know or fully trust, and don’t give out any personal information that may be compromising, even if you’re hoping to get up on the big screen.

Avoid third-party streaming sites. If you plan to stream the game from home this year, stick to official sites for streaming. Other sites can offer streams as well, but “free” third-party streams are often laced with malware and other data-stealing techniques.

Give your devices some defense. Whether you’re streaming from your computer, phone, or are using your phone to connect to the internet at the game, make sure all your devices are covered by a comprehensive security solution, like McAfee LiveSafe. That way, you can root for your favorite team and stay safe, all at the same time.