Garda social media accounts breached by crypto-hackers
Social media accounts used by An Garda Síochána appear to have been taken over in a breach related to cryptocurrency.
Social media accounts managed by An Garda Síochána, the Irish police force, have reportedly been compromised in a cyber attack involving cryptocurrency hackers. The breach has prompted the force to issue a warning about certain posts linked to a suspended account, which is not uncommon when accounts are found to violate rules regarding spam, malicious activities, and security risks.
The @GardaTraffic and @GardaInfo X profiles, both of which have been targeted, have removed their branding and have been posting a barrage of messages about a cryptocurrency. The location listed for both accounts has been altered to Amsterdam, Netherlands, though the @GardaTraffic account, boasting 600,000 followers, still claims to be the official Garda account for traffic and road safety updates.
The @GardaInfo account, with nearly 300,000 followers and still linked from the official Garda website, has been rebranded to serve as a support account for a cryptocurrency wallet. However, old videos and posts created by An Garda Síochána remain visible on the account. An Garda Síochána has been notified about the incident and is expected to provide a statement.
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