As part of Interpol’s Project Stadia, Kaspersky cooperated with the international policing agency to ensure the cybersecurity of the recent Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) football tournament in Morocco.
The threat intelligence data shared by Kaspersky was used by Moroccan law enforcers to mitigate the potential cyber risks targeting the competition and its spectators.
Major sporting competitions naturally attract much attention and are accompanied by upticks in cybercriminal activity – with threat actors rarely missing an opportunity to make a profit from fans and to capitalise on their interest in high-profile events.
For years, Kaspersky has been supporting the cyber defence of major sporting events, both contributing to international law enforcement efforts as well as educating spectators on how to stay vigilant.
To help create a safer online community around the AFCON, Kaspersky shared with Interpol the data on a wide range of threats targeting the contest, its participants and viewers – and the host country in general:
- Compromised credentials: The Kaspersky Digital Footprint Intelligence team has identified on the dark web more than 2-million credentials associated with Moroccan users or resources compromised by infostealers, a type of malicious software designed to extract credentials, financial details, or other valuable information.
- Hacktivist activity: Kaspersky detected a spike in hacktivist activity in Morocco between the period of September to December 2025. About 300 messages, reporting on hacktivist attacks and targeting Morocco, were published in 2025, with DDoS attacks and defacement being the key tools of hacktivists.
- Scam websites: Kaspersky identified a number of fraudulent websites harvesting user data and payment information under the guise of websites offering tickets to AFCON or promising prizes for picking the winning team of upcoming matches.
“Major international events present attractive targets for attackers who run attacks to exploit millions of fans through diverse fraudulent schemes,” says Yuliya Shlychkova, VP of Global Public Affairs at Kaspersky. “In such scenarios, fostering collaboration between public and private entities is crucial to channel all efforts into combating cybercrime and creating a secure experience for the millions attending these global events. Kaspersky is proud to contribute to Interpol’s mission which unites industry stakeholders in a shared commitment to global cybersecurity.”