Don’t be a Sochi Sucker

By Judi McLeod —— Bio and Archives February 6, 2014

Comments | Print This | Subscribe | Email Us

Pundit Jeff Hagar is doing what the Canadian and American governments should be doing by issuing a valid warning for all of those heading to the Sochi Olympics in Russia which celebrate opening ceremonies tomorrow:

“The Government should be telling all of its athletes and friends ‘Don’t bring your personal electronic devices. No phones, no laptops, no anything that might be at risk to hackers because they will hack you in Russia. Not IF, but WILL.” Sochi attendees also run the risk of bringing the results of Sochi hacking back home with them. “Once you get home, and the malware sees you paying your bills using a password, it’s bang-bang, identity theft. No sooner than you log into your bank account, your password and pin number have been sent via malware to the Russian mob gangsters preying on Sochi Suckers.” With stories of brown water, bugs, toilets that don’t work, dogs and construction workers wandering at will throughout hotels where Sochi visitors have checked in dominating the news, people overlook that nefarious gang-related electronic hackers have infused all possible sites in the Sochi District with electronic hacking devices capable of breaking any and all electronic handheld device or cellphone.

In Russia, which had years to prepare for the 2014 Winter Olympics, even pillows had to be requisitioned from residents for athletes. But the crawling bug infestations in hotels are nothing compared to wide-scale hacking. NBC journalist Richard Engel, not even in Sochi 16 seconds who had his phone hacked, can tell you how it works. A senior executive from a Russian internet company showed him how his phone was already broken into. His laptop too. They popped open a brand new phone, and while sitting in a coffee shop in the Athletes Village, it too was hacked within seconds. Malware was implanted and identity thefts were off and running. Granted, these phones and laptops were decoy items used to illustrate how deep and effective the Russian electronic counter measures in use by the roaming gangs. But what about you? Beware to all those traveling to or already in Sochi, Russia, thinking their cellphone was going to capture a magic moment for posterity. Yeah, and your personal information stolen in a flash. Your phone virtually worthless in seconds. And your trusty laptop? Just a useless piece of junk within a few seconds of starting it up. The Olympic mantra “Let the Games Begin” should mean the games taking place at the the Fisht Olympic Stadium and not your personal information. Don’t let Russian mob gangsters make you a Sochi sucker.