Cybersecurity Threats to Virtual Events: What You Need to Know

Virtual events have opened up new ways to connect, learn, and collaborate from anywhere. But, there's a trade-off: with convenience comes a new set of challenges, particularly when it comes to security and privacy risks. If you're hosting webinars, virtual conferences, or trainings, it's crucial to understand the virtual event cybersecurity threats lurking in the background.

From annoying disruptions to full-blown data breaches, attackers are getting increasingly sophisticated, finding creative ways to target your events. Here, we're breaking down the most common virtual event attacks, how they work, and what you can do to stop them. You'll come away with the knowledge you need about how to protect virtual events from hackers, minimize webinar security risks, and run your events with confidence.

Why Knowing the Threats Matters

Security tools are only as effective as your understanding of the threats they're meant to address. If you don't know what you're protecting against, even the best tools can fall short. 

Understanding how hackers disrupt virtual meetings helps you:

• Focus your security strategy on real threats.
• Choose the right tech for the job.
• Help your team and attendees spot red flags.
• Respond faster and smarter if something goes wrong.
• Identify potential security vulnerabilities, helping you fine-tune your overall virtual event security strategy.

Next, let's take a look at the most common types of cyber attacks on virtual events, what they look like, and how to keep them from ruining your hard work.

The Most Common Virtual Event Security Threats (and How to Stop Them)

Remember the three P's cyber attackers try to exploit: platform, process, or people. Hackers troll for weak spots in one of those three areas. Here's what to watch for:

1. Uninvited Guests and Event Disruption (aka, Zoombombing)

Remember back in the early days of the pandemic, when virtual meeting "crashers" made headlines? That's Zoombombing, and it's definitely still a thing. 

What it is: Someone gains unauthorized access and stirs up chaos by sharing offensive content, shouting over speakers, or flooding the chat. 

Why it matters: It's disruptive, potentially harmful to participants if the interloper(s) target groups or individuals and threaten the psychological safety of the setting, it's embarrassing, and can damage your brand.

How to stop it: Use registration-only access, MFA (multi-factor authentication), waiting rooms/lobbies, passwords, and moderator controls. These are essential for mitigating the risks for online events.

2. Data Breaches and Info Theft

All that high-value event data—registration info, attendee emails, chat logs—is sought-after by hackers. 

What it is: Cybercriminals steal data by intercepting traffic, exploiting weak account passwords, or accessing exported attendee lists. 

Why it matters: You could face compliance violations, big legal fines, and/or a serious loss of trust, all which negatively affect your entire organization.

How to stop it: Choose platforms with solid, end-to-end encryption and access controls. Be intentional about what you collect, store, and share. Preventing data breaches in virtual events starts with smart handling of attendee information. Remember: only collect the minimum of what you need to accomplish your objective. The less you collect, the less to protect.

3. Phishing and Social Engineering Scams

Even if it looks legit, watch out for these red flags: a sense of urgency, asking for something sensitive, an invitation to click a link...pause. It's potentially a phishing attempt. 

What it is: Scammers pose as event organizers and send fake messages to trick people into clicking bad links or giving up personal info.  

Why it matters: A single click can lead to malware, stolen credentials, or worse.

How to stop it: Train your team and attendees to spot phishing. Set up multi-factor authentication (MFA) and don't trust everything that looks official: today's AI-powered fakes are making it increasingly tough to spot a bad actor.

4. Malware and Ransomware at Events

Did you know your webinar could be used to spread malware? Don't let your virtual events become ground zero for malware attacks! 

What it is: Hackers sneak in malicious links or files through event chats, fake registration pages, or follow-up emails.

Why it matters: Malware can lock your files, spy on your systems (called 'spyware'), or hijack attendee data, even holding it hostage (ransomware). 

How to stop it: Disable file sharing unless it's absolutely necessary, scan uploads, and train your team to recognize risky links. A little caution goes a long way.

5. DDoS and DoS Attacks

These types of attacks are aimed at taking your event offline by overwhelming your systems with fake traffic.

What it is: A Denial-of-Service (DoS) or Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attack floods your system with requests, slowing it down or shutting it off entirely.

Why it matters: Your event can freeze, become unstable, or even crash, ruining the experience and possibly costing you money. 

How to stop it: Use a platform with built-in DDoS protection. If you're self-hosting, make sure your infrastructure can handle a sudden traffic surge. Scaling matters!

6. Third Party Vulnerabilities

Sometimes it's not your platform, it's the add-on tools you connect to it that are the real risks. 

What it is: Vulnerabilities introduced by third-party tools such as polling apps and analytics give hackers a back door way into your event.

Why it matters: Even if your platform is solid, weak integrations can expose you to threats.

How to stop it: Vet your vendors, stay on top of updates, and avoid connecting anything you don't truly need.

7. Insider Mistakes (or Malicious Behavior)

Sometimes, the call is coming from inside the house. Either accidental or intentional, insider behavior may be what opens the door. 

What it is: Someone on your team misconfigures security settings, mishandles data, or intentionally disrupts the event.

Why it matters: One misstep can expose sensitive data or tank your event. 

How to stop it: Train your team, limit access to what people really need, and monitor admin activity. Structure and clear roles and permissions can go a long way.

EventBuilder's Dedication to Data Security and Privacy Integrity

EventBuilder's team engages in on-going security and privacy training, including phishing simulations, to stay on top on the latest threat trends and keep best practices top-of-mind.

Additionally, as part of our ISO 27001 and ISO 27701 certifications, standard practices are in place and annual audits are conducted to ensure consistent application of data security and privacy protocols throughout the company.

Virtual Event Security is Ongoing—Not One and Done

Staying ahead of virtual event cybersecurity threats means thinking in layers:

• Pick a platform built with security in mind (like EventBuilder).
• Lock down access with registration, MFA, waiting rooms/lobbies, and passwords.
• Follow privacy best practices (such as GDPR and CCPA).
• Use advanced security features for high-stakes sessions.
• Keep your team and attendees in the loop about threats.
• Run through "what if" plans before you need them.

Mitigating security risks for online events is less about checking boxes and more about creating a culture of awareness.

Bottom Line: Know the Risks, Plan For Them, and Own Your Security

The shift to virtual doesn't mean you can let your guard down. In fact, it means the opposite.

From unauthorized access and malware, to phishing scams and DDoS attacks, the list of cybersecurity threats to virtual events keeps growing, but so do the ways you can fight back. With a proactive mindset, a secure platform, and a little cybersecurity know-how, you can create virtual experiences that are safe, engaging, and totally under control.

Get the Checklist: Secure Your Next Virtual Event

Don't leave your event's security up to chance! Download our Virtual Event Security Checklist—a practical, step-by-step guide to help you spot risks, tighten controls, and protect your attendees' data.

• Free download!
• Built by virtual event security pros
• Perfect for securing your webinars, trainings, and conferences

Security By Design

Ready to lock your virtual events down with tailored security from a trusted vendor? Look no further than EventBuilder! Learn more about how our pros can design secure, compliant, and top-notch events for you? Get started today!