09.05.2025 - Major events and international conferences are often the target of cyberattacks. The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) expects that there will be attempts to disrupt the Eurovision Song Contest and is in close contact with the organisations involved in staging the event. Such attacks are often aimed at generating media attention.
Major events and international conferences such as the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) don’t just attract public attention – they also have an impact on the cyberthreat situation. Hacktivists and other cybercriminals often see these occasions as prime opportunities for attacks, making organisers, participants and other involved organisations likely targets.
Recommendations by the NCSC
While the motives and objectives of cyberattackers may differ, the core protective measures remain the same as in normal circumstances. Consistently applying these measures can prevent a wide range of cyber incidents. The NCSC recommends following them at all times – regardless of the current threat level – and reporting any suspicious activity using the NCSC online reporting form.
The NCSC is working closely with the organisations involved in staging the ESC. It has raised awareness among them and among operators of critical infrastructure in Switzerland, and has issued recommendations to help minimise risk.
DDoS attacks expected
The NCSC anticipates that there will be disruptive cyberoperations during the ESC, particularly distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks targeting Swiss organisations. These attacks aim to flood websites and online services with traffic, rendering them partially or completely inaccessible. No data is lost in a DDoS attack. Such attacks are often linked to politically or ideologically motivated actors (hacktivists) seeking visibility and media attention or aiming to unsettle the public.
Information for media representatives
The perpetrators of such attacks on the availability of websites and services usually want to generate media attention in order to spread their ideology. The NCSC is asking journalists to bear this in mind when writing their articles, so that the attackers receive as little attention as possible.
Last modification 09.05.2025
