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Kaspersky helped Interpol block cyber crooks from messing up the 2025-2026 African Cup of Nations.
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The initiative, which is under INTERPOL’s Project Stadia, identified over 2 million stolen Moroccan credentials on the dark web.
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Fans faced a wave of phishing scams during the tournament, and AFCON digital systems took some hits too, from hacktivists and DDoS attacks.
INTERPOL and Kaspersky basically teamed up like some cyber Avengers during the latest African Cup of Nations in Morocco. Their whole mission? Keep fans, organizers, and all the behind-the-scenes tech safe from online criminals trying to mess things up or scam people.
This whole initiative was under Project Stadia, an INTERPOL operation that focuses on shielding big sports events from cyber criminals.
The Reasons for the Kaspersky/INTERPOL AFCON Partnership
Cyber crooks often target major tournaments like AFCON. They try to exploit the huge public interest through all kinds of scams. Fans hunting for match updates or scrambling for tickets are often prime targets for hackers.
Kaspersky’s Digital Footprint Intelligence crew actually dropped some solid tips and intel to the Moroccan police to keep things in check. They discovered over 2.1 million Moroccan credentials on the dark web.
Criminals get a hold of these credentials using infostealer malware. This malware gets into users’ devices and secretly steals login details and financial information of users.
Surge in Hack Attacks and Phishing Against Moroccans
From September to December last year, Kaspersky noticed that hacktivist attacks targeting Morocco increased. They saw 300 posts online about attacks on various Moroccan companies. The primary methods of attack were via Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) and website defacement.
Additionally, Kaspersky found fake websites that pretend to offer official AFCON services. These sites deceived football fans with fake ticket adverts and prizes for predicting winners. When users get into the website, the site will harvest their payment data and personal information.
These phishing campaigns are often powered by stolen credentials obtained through infostealers, including AI-enhanced variants that represent the next generation of data theft tools, making it even harder for users to protect themselves.
Yuliya Shlychkova, Kaspersky’s VP of Global Public Affairs, weighed in on the importance of teamwork in fighting online threats. He noted that big international events are attractive targets for cyber criminals who cook up various schemes to exploit millions of fans.
Public and private organizations working in synergy are very necessary to combat cybercrimes and make digital experiences safe for users, Shlychkova explained.
Why Sporting Events Like AFCON Are Prime Targets for Cybercrooks
During major sporting events, there’s often lots of fan excitement and an urgency to buy tickets, view matches, and key into the thrills the tournaments bring. People tend to let their guards down while chasing last-minute tickets, exclusive content, and betting deals. Cybercriminals take advantage of this.
It’s not the first time Kaspersky has participated in such an initiative. In the past, the company has provided cybersecurity support in other global events, such as the Paris 2024 Olympics and the 2025 Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix, inclusive. Their main focus is on providing threat intel and educating the public to be aware of the online risks so there’ll be fewer victims.
According to INTERPOL, such collaborations are vital, seeing as modern sporting tournaments now heavily rely on online infrastructure. Digital ticketing systems, online broadcasting platforms, e-payment services, and fan engagement communities, virtually everything is now online.
With millions of folks watching the games online through their phones and streaming platforms, digital safety is just as important as the physical security at the stadiums. Cybersecurity isn’t just tech nerd talk anymore; it’s one of the ways to make sure everyone enjoys these events without any problems.
