Belgian Table Tennis and Gymnastics Federations Hit by Cyberattacks

Cyberattack on Table Tennis Federations

Belgium's national table tennis federation (FRBTT) and its French-speaking branch (AFTT) are investigating a cyberattack. Jean-Michel Mureau, president of the AFTT, confirmed the incident, stating that their IT department is determining the extent of compromised data. The federations were alerted last week and asked their IT provider to investigate.

Hacker Claims and Data Allegations

A hacker using the handle Venus1337 claimed responsibility for the attack, posting samples of purportedly stolen information online. The attacker alleged obtaining nearly 1.7 gigabytes of data, including records for over 66,800 members and 17,400 users, as well as administrative accounts. These claims have not been independently verified by the federations.

Federation's Response and Investigation

The AFTT stated it is taking the incident seriously, conducting checks of its own systems and its website's service provider. While no evidence of infrastructure compromise has been found, security measures have been strengthened. The AFTT has not yet found evidence that member phone numbers or email addresses were accessed, and the investigation is ongoing. Affected individuals will be notified if personal data is confirmed compromised.

Wider Breach Affects Gymnastics Federation

The same hacker, Venus1337, also claimed responsibility for a separate breach involving Belgium's French-speaking Gymnastics Federation (FfG). This indicates a broader pattern of cyberattacks targeting Belgian sports organizations.