MILAN, Feb 5, 2026, 18:38 CET
- Italy reports it has blocked cyberattacks targeting foreign ministry networks, including an embassy in Washington, as well as sites linked to the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics
- Officials provided scant information about the methods used in the attacks or the identities of those responsible
- A U.S. security official warned that cyberattacks continue to pose a daily threat with the Games kicking off in Milan this Friday
Italy stopped a series of cyberattacks targeting its foreign ministry network, including an embassy in Washington and websites tied to the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics and local hotels in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said Wednesday. He attributed the attacks to “actions of Russian origin.” Reuters
As the Winter Olympics hit their peak, with the opening ceremony set for Friday at Milan’s San Siro stadium and curling already underway in Cortina, Italy faced attempted cyber intrusions. Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi told parliament that 6,000 security officers were stationed across venues from Milan to the Dolomites.
A senior U.S. security official in Milan said Thursday, “Right now we are not tracking any credible threats,” but singled out cyberattacks as a top concern during major events. He noted networks can be hit with as many as 1,000 DDoS attacks—“distributed denial-of-service” attempts that flood sites with traffic to knock them offline—in just one day. Reuters
During a visit to Washington, Tajani said authorities had thwarted attacks on foreign ministry sites “starting with Washington” as well as Olympic-related targets like hotels in Cortina. He didn’t provide details on how the threats were uncovered or if any services were affected.
Officials haven’t made any evidence public to support Tajani’s claim, and pinpointing a specific culprit in cyber incidents often takes time. Even if the systems stay up, ongoing attacks can disrupt services and create chaos—especially for platforms managing travel, hospitality, and essential Games info.
Piantedosi, laying out Italy’s security plan for the Games, brushed aside concerns about U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents working with American teams, stressing they won’t be policing Italian streets. He labeled the worries “completely unfounded” and confirmed Italy will roll out 6,000 police officers, including bomb squads, canine anti-sabotage units, alpine teams, and anti-terror forces. Reuters
Tim Ayers from the State Department’s Diplomatic Security Service pointed to lone-actor attacks as the biggest worry for security planners — incidents where a single individual strikes without any broader group and often with little warning. He also raised concerns about drones, especially given the sprawling layout of the Games, but noted that Italy’s airspace control appeared robust.
Several protests are expected in the coming days. Ayers noted that in Italy, demonstrations are usually registered beforehand, which allows police to better plan routes and keep athletes clear of potential disruptions.
Russia and Belarus won’t appear officially at the Games, but some of their athletes might still compete—under neutral status, per published guidelines and background reports.
The Winter Games, taking place from Feb. 6 to 22 across northern Italy, have organizers and security teams treating cyber threats as an everyday challenge rather than a minor concern.
