Khaled Fawzy Warns at CAISEC: Major Global Events Have Become Open Arenas for Cyberattacks
Cybersecurity expert Khaled Fawzy warned that major international events such as the FIFA World Cup have increasingly become prime targets for cyberattacks, as hackers seek to exploit the massive digital infrastructure surrounding global tournaments and high-profile events.
Speaking during a press conference held on the sidelines of the CAISEC cybersecurity summit, Fawzy said the scale of digital systems supporting modern sporting events has transformed them into complex cybersecurity battlegrounds involving governments, telecom operators, financial systems, broadcasters, and technology providers.
Fawzy explained that modern tournaments are no longer limited to stadiums and live matches, but now rely heavily on interconnected digital ecosystems that include cloud computing, AI technologies, online ticketing systems, payment platforms, smart infrastructure, and millions of connected users worldwide.
He noted that cybercriminals increasingly target such events through attacks aimed at disrupting operations, stealing sensitive data, exploiting digital vulnerabilities, or testing advanced hacking capabilities on globally visible platforms.
According to Fawzy, the growing use of artificial intelligence has further intensified cyber risks by enabling more sophisticated phishing attacks, deepfake content, automated malware campaigns, and advanced social engineering tactics.
He stressed that organizations responsible for major international events must move beyond traditional cybersecurity approaches and adopt proactive defense strategies capable of monitoring threats in real time and responding rapidly to evolving attacks.
Fawzy also highlighted the importance of stronger coordination between governments, cybersecurity companies, telecom operators, and critical infrastructure entities to improve digital resilience and secure increasingly interconnected systems.
His remarks came as CAISEC continues discussions around AI-powered cyber threats, digital sovereignty, cloud security, critical infrastructure protection, and the future of cybersecurity governance across Africa and the Middle East.
The summit has emerged as one of the region’s largest cybersecurity gatherings, bringing together global technology companies, cybersecurity agencies, ethical hackers, policymakers, and industry experts to examine the rapidly evolving cyber threat landscape.