An Garda Síochána has successfully regained control of its official social media accounts on X after a cryptocurrency-related hack. The breach, which occurred on Wednesday night, saw unauthorized access to the @GardaInfo and @GardaTraffic profiles. The hackers removed branding and posted numerous messages promoting a cryptocurrency, reaching thousands of followers before the posts were removed.
The accounts, which have over 600,000 and 300,000 followers respectively, were temporarily inactive as the Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau investigates the incident. The Garda assured the public that no unauthorized access to its systems or data occurred, and the breach was limited to X.
Cybersecurity expert Brian Honan described the incident as 'embarrassing' for the Garda but noted that high-profile account hijackings are not uncommon. Olga Cronin, head of policy at the Irish Council of Civil Liberties, expressed concern over the potential exposure of sensitive information and called for transparency from both An Garda Síochána and X.