Following the recent ransomware attack on one US media group, Quantums Eric Bassier explains why broadcasters are being targeted, and how they can safeguard themselves against such threats
By Jenny Priestley
Published: June 10, 2021
Following the recent ransomware attack on one US media group, Quantum's Eric Bassier explains why broadcasters are being targeted, and how they can safeguard themselves against such threats
target=_blank title=Share on LinkedIn class=share-linkedin>
So far during 2021 two broadcasters have been hit by cyber attacks: Nine Network in Australia and Cox Media Group in the United States.
Of course, those are the two we know about. There could very possibly be others.
When a broadcaster is hit by a ransomware attack it can cause all kinds of disruption: newsrooms go offline, internal computer systems go down, streaming services can be impacted, and as broadcasters move towards a more IP-centric workflow a cyber attack could be devastating.
After the infamous Sony malware attack in 2014, when hackers released details of Sony Pictures' employee details, film scripts and even unreleased films, many broadcasters took note and increased their own internal firewalls.
So, why are broadcasters suddenly under attack, and why now? According to Eric Bassier, senior director, product marketing at Quantum, it's all about money. Broadcasters have found new ways to secure profits from their programmes, he tells TVBEurope. This includes new forms of PPVs, new DVR services, in-content shopping, and live large-scale events, which draw in more viewers and profits. With this influx of money, it's no wonder that cyber criminals are knocking at the door wanting a piece of the pie.
He cites major events such as the Super Bowl and UEFA Champions League as potential targets. With that many people involved in a project, spread across the globe and across different networks and systems, it's natural for threat actors to take advantage of a backdoor attack. It only takes one weak link for the protective chain to break, and by then they've gained root access to the network and can initiate a denial of service.
Public recognition is also a key motivation. Successfully penetrating a broadcaster's network is akin to gaining the keys to the public eye' and forcing your hand, continues Bassier. News, sports, popular TV shows these programmes draw in eyeballs, and there's no better negotiating tactic than laying out your cards in front of millions of others, who now may not be able to watch these shows live. This puts all the risk back onto the broadcaster, who now must contend with public/industry opinion, reduced credibility, damaged reputation, and loss of time and money.
So the question is, what can broadcasters do to secure themselves against such attacks? Bassier stresses the need to be proactive, not reactive. One way is through the tried tested backup rule of 3-2-1-1, which means: 3 copies of your data, 2 different media types, one offsite, and one offline. he explains. The third point is behavioural, and it starts at the top by re-setting policies to get back online. A modern technology solution should also provide data immutability' to protect and recover your assets in the case of a breach and secure your data with a multi-layer technology approach. Remember, a virus cannot bypass a physical barrier formed between your data and the network. It is and will continue to be the most cost-effective form of ransomware protection.
Bassier offers some practical tips to broadcasters or those working within a broadcasting system/network, on how they can take reduce the probability of a major shut down and the exfiltration of data:
Ensure data won't be compromised if a hack occurs
Look at your backup strategy holistically across your entire environment
Ensure you can recover; test, test, test your recovery method
As soon as data fulfils its value in fast disk, tier it off to a cold data solution
Think differently: Consider a multi-layer approach to protect and recover backups
Prevent a hack before it happens
Understand your risk profile and threat landscape
Identify network entry and exit points
Reduce the attack footprint/surface
Harden your systems (shut down the nice' to haves)
Disable services like RDP (gateways, ports)
Boost awareness of social engineering tactics and defences
Review your cyber-hygiene
Update software regularly
Backup regularly
Regular scan for vulnerabilities
Remediate your findings
US media group hit by ransomware attack
Australia's busiest newsroom abandoned due to suspected cyber attack
data-src=https://www.tvbeurope.com/wp-content/themes/tvbeurope/library/images/tvbe-subs.jpg width=729 height=90>
Europe Stories
05/01/2027
Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...
01/06/2026
January 6 2026, 05:30 (PST) Dolby Sets the New Standard for Premium Entertainment at CES 2026
Throughout the week, Dolby brings to life the latest innovatio...
01/05/2026
January 5 2026, 18:30 (PST) NBCUniversal's Peacock to Be First Streamer to ...
01/04/2026
January 4 2026, 18:00 (PST) DOLBY AND DOUYIN EMPOWER THE NEXT GENERATON OF CREATORS WITH DOLBY VISION
Douyin Users Can Now Create And Share Videos With Stun...
28/01/2026
Music discovery should feel intuitive and personal. That's why we're continuing to give you more control, so you can ask for what you want, shape what y...
28/01/2026
Today, Charlie Hellman, Spotify's Head of Music, shared the following note on the Spotify for Artists blog that the company paid out more than $11 billion t...
28/01/2026
As demand for more complex live sports coverage grows, Balkan broadcast specialist MVP has upgraded its flagship HD1 progressive OB truck with the installation ...
28/01/2026
Luxembourg, January 26, 2026 - SES S.A. ( SES or the Company ), a leading space solutions company, acknowledges the credit rating action announced by Fitch to...
28/01/2026
28 Jan 2026
VEON Notes Kyivstar Group Publication of Selected Full Year 2025 Fi...
28/01/2026
Rohde & Schwarz to host 2026 edition of its online event Demystifying EMC Rohde & Schwarz invites the global EMC community to join a crucial discussion on pre...
28/01/2026
Stadtwerke Wolfhagen Modernize Customer Management with AEP.energysuite from Arv...
27/01/2026
Click for Japanese version
Tokyo, Japan - January 27, 2026 - Akamai Technolo...
27/01/2026
Today, Spotify is proud to support our partner Backline, an industry-leading men...
27/01/2026
With nearly 29 million monthly listeners and clear momentum on Spotify, Net n Ve...
27/01/2026
eds3_5_jq(document).ready(function($) { $(#eds_sliderM519).chameleonSlider_2_1({ content_source:......
27/01/2026
New agreement for uninterrupted UHF connectivity for Australian Defence Force through 2033, With Options Extending to 2041
Luxembourg, January 13, 2026 - Satel...
27/01/2026
Tuesday 27 January 2026
SNL UK creative team expands as Pauli Lovejoy, Annie Ha...
27/01/2026
RT Supporting the Arts is delighted to support a dynamic programme of cultural events taking place across Ireland this February. From visual art, film, music, ...
26/01/2026
Music videos play a huge part in how fans connect with their favorite songs, but...
26/01/2026
Wuppertal January 26, 2026
Riedel and Media Tailor Deliver Unified Broadcast a...
26/01/2026
26 Jan 2026
VEON Unveils the New Beeline Uzbekistan Network Operations Center, ...
26/01/2026
Bookish is created by and stars Mark Gatiss
Images available HERE
Following th...
26/01/2026
Monday 26 January 2026
New Sky Original Series explores Entertainment Juggernaut, The X Factor
Sky today confirmed it has greenlit a premium, definitive docum...
26/01/2026
Monday 26 January 2026
Sky confirms major investment to transform Livingston ca...
26/01/2026
Software for Stable Data Management and Lasting Business Success in Uncertain Ti...
26/01/2026
RT is today publishing a statistical summary of the Register of External Activities for the third quarter of 2025.
The RT Register of External Activities com...
24/01/2026
RT and Virgin Media Television kick off comprehensive free-to-air coverage of t...
23/01/2026
Staines-upon-Thames, UK, 29 July, 2025 - Yospace, the global leader in Dynamic A...
23/01/2026
Spotify's annual Best New Artist celebration honors the rising stars whose talent, creativity, and dedication have propelled them to the music industry'...
23/01/2026
Paramount is transforming its operations by unifying the media supply chains of their top brands into a scalable global pipeline.
This transformation enhances ...
23/01/2026
Every delay costs. When a subtitle fails QC, even the smallest issue can mean missed deadlines, extra vendor costs, or frustrated teams. The new Accurate.Video ...
23/01/2026
Find out where Sare and Suze are now on RT One and RT Player Thursday 29 January at 10.15pm
Hit drama SisterS, created by, written by and starring real-life ...
23/01/2026
Friday 23 January 2026
Sky appoints Lisa Clark as Commissioning Executive for SNL UK
Lisa Clark headshot
PNG (468KB)
Lisa Clark joins Sky as Commissioning E...
23/01/2026
RT is delighted to announce that the RT and F s ireann / Screen Ireland supported short film Retirement Plan has been nominated for Best Animated Short at th...
22/01/2026
Last November, Ed Sheeran returned to his musical roots for an intimate, one-nig...
22/01/2026
Every delay costs. When a subtitle fails QC, even the smallest issue can mean missed deadlines, extra vendor costs, or frustrated teams. The new Accurate.Video ...
22/01/2026
Thursday 29 January 9:35pm on RT 2 and RT Player
The dating show returns with something old, something new and a dater you may already know
Thursday evenings...
22/01/2026
Rohde & Schwarz, Qualcomm, and Motorola demonstrate successful 5G Broadcast comp...
22/01/2026
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, t...
21/01/2026
Wednesday 21 January 2026
Backing Britain on the global stage: Sky becomes an o...
21/01/2026
Fox Corporation Executives to Discuss Second Quarter Fiscal 2026 Financial Resul...
21/01/2026
Baselight v7 brings colourists and post-houses smarter mattes, faster workflows and deeper control
FilmLight, known for its detailed colour toolset and longsta...
21/01/2026
RT News is pleased to announce the appointment of Jackie Fox as its new Washington Correspondent. Jackie is a multimedia journalist with RT News and has repor...
19/01/2026
Monday 19 January 2026
Sky News reinvents News at Ten for the modern audience with The Wrap
Sky News today announces The Wrap, a bold evolution of its 10pm ou...
19/01/2026
DPA Microphones is striking a new chord in piano miking with the debut of its DPK2015 Piano Stereo Kit, an out-of-the-box, plug-and-play miking solution that ta...
19/01/2026
DPA Microphones will present its 4099 CORE Instrument Microphone and redesigned...
19/01/2026
Trianel relies on Arvato Systems for future-proof data center operations
Moving to the cloud: Arvato Systems implements extensive IT migration project
Migrat...
19/01/2026
Celebrating 21 Years of the RT Choice Music Prize
RT Choice Music Prize
In association with IMRO and IRMA
Irish Album of the Year 2025 - Shortlist Announce...
18/01/2026
January 18 2026, 21:30 (PST) Dolby Cinema Arrives in Bengaluru: Dolby Laborator...
Following the recent ransomware attack on one US media group, Quantums Eric Bassier explains why broadcasters are being targeted, and how they can safeguard themselves against such threats
