Cybersecurity in Sports: Players’ Endeavor for Wealth Must Consider Safety and Organizational Safeguards
Athlete Safety in an Evolving Technological World
At Victory Cybersecurity Consulting, we recognize that today’s athletes are not just competing on the field but also navigating a complex digital arena filled with unseen threats. The risks extend beyond game day, from targeted phishing campaigns and deepfakes to account takeovers and doxxing. We provide tailored cybersecurity services for athletes, agents, and sports organizations. Our approach includes dark web monitoring, phishing defense strategies, social media protection, and hands-on cybersecurity training that empowers athletes to secure their personal brands and digital presence. Whether you’re a collegiate athlete stepping into NIL sponsorships or a seasoned pro managing multimillion-dollar endorsements, Victory Cybersecurity offers the strategic defense you need to stay protected in an increasingly connected world. Learn more about how we defend your name, image, and legacy at victorycyberconsulting.com.
The modern-era professional and collegiate athlete is becoming not just a sports figure but transforming into their brand through online personas, influencing, and highlighting unique personality traits. With dedicated campaigns to gain millions of followers on social media, endorsement deals, and personal ventures, athletes are rightfully capitalizing on building massive wealth off the field. Players and supporting organizations must acknowledge that the expanding digital footprint presents significant risks and provides avenues of attack for cybersecurity threats. Cybercriminals will target athletes who display traits that allow fans and the public to follow an athlete looking to exploit platforms that provide athletes a platform to profit and connect with spectators.
The Digital Double-Edged Sword
Image Description: Attempted attacks per platform during 2024.
Athletes use platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter to build their brands, engage fans, and secure lucrative sponsorships. But what many don’t realize is how those same channels create vulnerabilities. According to Dark Reading, many athletes rely heavily on social media for branding without fully grasping the risks—opening the door to ransomware, phishing scams, and social engineering attacks.
Beyond basic account takeovers, some threats are profoundly personal and invasive. Public-facing athletes have become targets of harassment, doxxing, and even physical stalking. Tennis stars Emma Raducanu and Iga Swiatek, for example, have both faced threats that began online and escalated into real-world confrontations. Swiatek had to increase her security presence after being verbally attacked by a spectator—proof that digital threats don’t stay digital.
How Threat Actors Exploit Athletes
Athletes are now more than just competitors on the field—they are global celebrities, brand ambassadors, and digital content creators. With this elevated status comes increased visibility, and with visibility comes vulnerability. Threat actors, from petty cybercriminals to sophisticated organized crime groups, actively exploit athletes' digital presence to compromise their safety, finances, and reputations.
One of the most common threats comes from phishing attacks, where malicious actors send deceptive messages—often appearing to be from brands, agents, or fans—to trick athletes into revealing credentials or clicking malicious links. These messages frequently leverage the athlete’s high volume of endorsements or social engagements to craft convincing impersonations. In 2023, cybersecurity firm BlackCloak reported a sharp rise in phishing attempts explicitly aimed at high-net-worth individuals, including athletes, due to their social media visibility and perceived access to capital.
Another increasingly common method is account compromise and impersonation. Cybercriminals hijack an athlete’s Instagram, Twitter, or TikTok accounts through brute force attacks or data from previous breaches and use them to post harmful content, demand ransom, or scam fans. When Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes had his Twitter account hacked in 2020, malicious actors posted false endorsements and links to phishing sites, momentarily damaging his credibility and raising alarms about digital safeguards in sports.
Dark web exposure also plays a role. Compromised credentials from prior platform breaches often end up for sale on the dark web. Athletes who reuse passwords or neglect proper digital hygiene may unknowingly allow unauthorized access to personal files, emails, or financial accounts. These credentials can be bundled and sold, enabling identity theft and targeted harassment.
Perhaps the most alarming evolution is the use of public social media data for physical crimes. In early 2024, the FBI released a warning about organized crime rings targeting the homes of professional athletes during away games or public events. These groups used Instagram stories, game schedules, and tagged locations to determine when athletes would be away, orchestrating coordinated burglaries. Victims included athletes like Luka Dončić, whose personal information and routines were openly posted online.
Cyberstalking and harassment are also rampant. Women athletes, in particular, face an escalating barrage of threats online. Tennis star Iga Świątek recently spoke out after a man followed her on tour for months, escalating from online DMs to in-person confrontations. Similarly, Emma Raducanu faced ongoing harassment by someone who used social media to track her daily movements, prompting police involvement and further scrutiny of athlete digital safety protocols.
Even sponsorship deals and brand partnerships can be exploited. Threat actors impersonate brands to lure athletes into disclosing sensitive information or clicking malware-laden links disguised as legitimate business opportunities. Without careful vetting, athletes can easily be tricked into engaging with fake representatives, especially in direct message channels where verification is limited.
In short, the digital realm is a fertile hunting ground for threat actors and athletes, who are high—value targets given their fame, wealth, and often relaxed approach to cybersecurity. Their risk profile is unlike any other industry, making implementing strong digital defenses tailored to their public roles imperative.
Proactive Cyber Hygiene for Athletes
With the growing number of digital threats facing athletes, the need for proactive cybersecurity measures has never been more pressing. Athletes are public figures operating in a world where a compromised social media account or leaked personal details can lead to career-threatening consequences. However, many still treat cybersecurity as an afterthought. Changing that mindset and taking deliberate steps to secure digital lives is necessary.
1. Strong Password Hygiene and Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
The first and most basic defense is creating strong, unique passwords for each platform. Many athletes reuse the same passwords across multiple accounts—a practice that exposes them when one platform experiences a data breach. A password manager can simplify this process, helping athletes maintain secure credentials across platforms. According to Microsoft, pairing this with MFA—requiring a second form of authentication, like a code sent to a trusted device—can prevent 99% of unauthorized logins.
2. Limiting Real-Time Social Sharing
Posting live updates from training facilities, homes, or vacation spots may seem harmless. Still, threat actors can use this information to plan physical break-ins or targeted attacks. Athletes should be coached to delay posting location-based content or use generic tags rather than precise geotags. In a widely publicized example, social media played a role in a burglary at boxer Amir Khan’s home, as criminals were able to determine when the house was empty based on his posts.
3. Securing Personal Devices and Apps
Athletes often carry multiple smart devices—phones, tablets, wearables—which can all serve as entry points for cyberattacks. Devices should be updated regularly, encrypted, and protected by biometric or strong password access. Removing unused apps and limiting permissions (e.g., access to contacts, location, camera) reduces the attack surface. Cybersecurity training should also emphasize how seemingly benign apps can leak personal information or be data harvesting tools.
4. Regular Threat Awareness and Cybersecurity Training
Cyber hygiene should not be a one-time checklist—it requires continuous education. Athletes should undergo cybersecurity awareness sessions tailored to their public roles, especially those transitioning to professional leagues or gaining significant online followers. These should include recognizing phishing emails, impersonation attempts, brand scams, and reporting suspicious activity.
5. Digital Monitoring and Support
Enlisting the help of cybersecurity firms that specialize in protecting high-profile individuals is a wise investment. These services can scan the dark web for compromised credentials, monitor social media impersonation attempts, and alert clients to real-time threats. Some firms even offer AI-powered monitoring tools that flag irregular patterns in login attempts or behavioral anomalies.
6. Communication and Transaction Security
Whether negotiating sponsorships or responding to fan messages, all communication should be routed through verified and secure channels. Public email addresses should be vetted and firewalled, and financial discussions should never occur over social media. Using secure messaging apps and endpoint protection can go a long way in preventing fraud.
Athletes must treat their digital lives with the same seriousness as physical training and injury prevention. Cyber threats are not hypothetical risks—they are active and evolving and can inflict immense personal and professional damage. Athletes can build a digital shield to match their physical one by embedding proactive cyber hygiene into their daily routines.
Sources:
Victory Cybersecurity Consulting
https://www.victorycyberconsulting.comBlackCloak on Athlete Cybersecurity
https://blackcloak.io/educating-athletes-about-cyber-risks-a-guide-for-sports-agents/Security Boulevard – Cybersecurity for Athletes
https://securityboulevard.com/2024/01/educating-athletes-about-cyber-risks-a-guide-for-sports-agents/Sports Business Journal – Protecting Athlete Accounts
https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Native/Black-Cloak/2024/May/AP News – FBI Warning on Athlete Home Burglaries
https://apnews.com/article/1f1fa84bcab6ba49cc127949c8688816Crain Currency – High-Net-Worth Individuals as Cybercrime Targets
https://www.craincurrency.com/family-office-management/who-are-high-value-cybercrime-targets-high-net-worth-individualsThe Guardian – Iga Świątek and Emma Raducanu Threats
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https://www.dataprise.com/resources/blog/build-your-cybersecurity-dream-teamAAG IT – Phishing Attack Statistics
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https://jumpcloud.com/blog/phishing-attack-statisticsKeepnet Labs – Deepfake Cyber Threat Statistics 2024
https://keepnetlabs.com/blog/deepfake-statistics-and-trends-about-cyber-threats-2024Security.org – Deepfake Crime Statistics
https://www.security.org/resources/deepfake-statistics/Medium – Catfishing and Digital Deception
https://medium.com/@ukmarketinghelp/digital-deception-exposed-why-catfishing-is-the-next-cybersecurity-crisis-in-the-post-truth-era-f176a151f7bcGetAstra – LinkedIn Phishing Statistics
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https://keepnetlabs.com/blog/linked-in-scams-on-the-rise-beware-of-phishing-attacksTDWI – LinkedIn Business Scam Research
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