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>
Most recent headlines
05/01/2027
Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...
13/11/2026
The UIM E1 Series wraps its third season this week with the Bombay Sapphire E1 Miami GP, Nov. 11-14, on Biscayne Bay at the Miami Seaplane Base on Watson Island...
13/11/2026
In-venue and creative video staffers at the professional and collegiate level ha...
13/11/2026
Singer-songwriter Benson Boone will headline entertainment for the Discover NHL Winter Classic between the Utah Mammoth and Colorado Avalanche at Rice-Eccles St...
13/11/2026
Blackmagic Design has announced the Blackmagic Ambisonic Microphone, a 7th order ambisonic microphone array that captures spatial audio for immersive video prod...
13/11/2026
SMPTE has announced that The Studio B&H and Riedel Communications will provide the video infrastructure and communications technology for the Solutions Hub at t...
13/11/2026
The Hollywood Professional Association (HPA) has announced the theme and program focus for the 2027 HPA Tech Retreat, which takes place Feb. 14-18, 2027, in La ...
13/11/2026
Football Manager 27 Touch is available on Apple Arcade starting today. The game ...
13/11/2026
MotoGP has announced a two-year media rights agreement with ESPN covering the Un...
13/11/2026
Apple Sports, the free iPhone app, has added the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) to its lineup of supported sports, in time for Saturday's UFC 334. The...
13/11/2026
The NBA and Fanatics Studios, the joint venture between Fanatics and entertainme...
13/11/2026
ESPN held its annual EDGE Innovation Conference last night and offered up an ove...
13/11/2026
Regional sports network gives Ithaca College, SUNY Cortland students a platform to thrive
One of the biggest games in Division III college football will be pla...
13/11/2026
Studer-inspired 500-series PWM compressor unveiled
The HLabs range already includes a couple of Studer-inspired offerings in the form of the PRE169 and EQ16...
13/11/2026
Download Now!
To view the white paper, please enter the following details:
--
First Name* First Name
Company*
Country* Please select your countryA...
13/11/2026
Share
{alert(Link copied)}).catch(err => {console.error(Failed to copy: , err)}) data-platform=copy_link data-action= class=font-ui-heading py-2 text-sm tex...
13/11/2026
Share
{alert(Link copied)}).catch(err => {console.error(Failed to copy: , err)}) data-platform=copy_link data-action= class=font-ui-heading py-2 text-sm tex...
13/11/2026
Share
{alert(Link copied)}).catch(err => {console.error(Failed to copy: , err)}) data-platform=copy_link data-action= class=font-ui-heading py-2 text-sm tex...
13/11/2026
Blue Lucy, the workflow orchestration and integration platform for broadcasters, rights owners and localisation companies, today announced an integration with c...
13/11/2026
Krotos announces Black Friday offers on Studio Pro and Studio Max
Brie Clayton November 12, 2026
0 Comments
First-year annual plans start at US$195.99...
13/11/2026
Blackmagic Design Announces Blackmagic Ambisonic Microphone
Brie Clayton November 12, 2026
0 Comments
New 7th order ambisonic microphone with 108 MEMS...
13/11/2026
Meet the Berklee Student Setting Planetary Motion to Music With his compositional platform SoniKosmos, Javier Roqueni aims to make the universe the ultimate i...
13/11/2026
Share
{alert(Link copied)}).catch(err => {console.error(Failed to copy: , er...
13/11/2026
Share
{alert(Link copied)}).catch(err => {console.error(Failed to copy: , err)}) data-platform=copy_link data-action= class=font-ui-heading py-2 text-sm tex...
13/11/2026
Share
{alert(Link copied)}).catch(err => {console.error(Failed to copy: , err)}) data-platform=copy_link data-action= class=font-ui-heading py-2 text-sm tex...
13/11/2026
Share
{alert(Link copied)}).catch(err => {console.error(Failed to copy: , err)}) data-platform=copy_link data-action= class=font-ui-heading py-2 text-sm tex...
13/11/2026
Share
{alert(Link copied)}).catch(err => {console.error(Failed to copy: , er...
13/11/2026
Share
{alert(Link copied)}).catch(err => {console.error(Failed to copy: , err)}) data-platform=copy_link data-action= class=font-ui-heading py-2 text-sm tex...
13/11/2026
Share
{alert(Link copied)}).catch(err => {console.error(Failed to copy: , err)}) data-platform=copy_link data-action= class=font-ui-heading py-2 text-sm tex...
13/11/2026
Share
{alert(Link copied)}).catch(err => {console.error(Failed to copy: , err)}) data-platform=copy_link data-action= class=font-ui-heading py-2 text-sm tex...
13/11/2026
Share
{alert(Link copied)}).catch(err => {console.error(Failed to copy: , err)}) data-platform=copy_link data-action= class=font-ui-heading py-2 text-sm tex...
13/11/2026
Share
{alert(Link copied)}).catch(err => {console.error(Failed to copy: , err)}) data-platform=copy_link data-action= class=font-ui-heading py-2 text-sm tex...
13/11/2026
Amagi, the media industry cloud company, today announced a partnership with Golden Times Media Technology (stock code 920021.BJ), a Beijing-based media and tech...
13/11/2026
CGI (TSX: GIB.A) (NYSE: GIB), one of the largest independent IT and business consulting services firms in the world, together with its Malaysian partner, Cedar ...
13/11/2026
SMPTE, the home for media professionals, technologists and engineers, today announced that The Studio B&H and Riedel Communications will provide the video infra...
13/11/2026
iWedia, a global leader in connected TV software solutions, will present its software-first approach to DRAM optimization at Android TV APAC Summit 2026 in Bang...
13/11/2026
Beginning today, November 13, Apple HomeView is available for purchase at Apple Store locations, on the Apple Store online, and in the Apple Store app in select...
13/11/2026
From pediatric research to smart hospitals, AI is helping care teams spend less time on routine tasks and more time with patients.
Health systems and startups...
12/11/2026
Industry leaders examine how Dynamic Media Facility, Media eXchange Layer, and c...
12/11/2026
The junior Tar Heel is embracing the technical and creative challenges of live production while emerging as a leader and mentor in the control room...
12/11/2026
Gracenote, Nielsen's content intelligence business, has released its fifth a...
12/11/2026
RTL Deutschland will bring the NHL to free-to-air TV in Germany starting Nov. 30...
12/11/2026
Clear-Com supported On Air 2026, a 24-hour student-led broadcast connecting 45 u...
12/11/2026
uniqFEED has opened a Remote Operations Center (ROC) in Madrid, Spain. It is already operational, delivering virtual advertising for LaLiga matches. The ROC is ...
12/11/2026
Disney, ESPN and the NBA will present Dunk the Halls, the third real-time animated NBA game using Sony's Beyond Sports data visualization technology, on Chr...
12/11/2026
Van Wagner has launched Van Wagner RELAY, a digital platform for official athlet...
12/11/2026
Deal brings together two of the industry's most established graphics brands and significantly expands Vizrt's footprint in U.S. sports and regional broa...
12/11/2026
Euro TV Production GmbH of Austria has upgraded its outside broadcast vehicle with Lawo technology. The mc 36 Classic console in service since 2019 was replaced...
12/11/2026
Tagboard has launched Spark Resize, an AI-assisted tool now in beta that takes an existing graphic and produces a new version for a different aspect ratio or sc...
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
