Update: An Garda Síochána can confirm that control of the Official Garda Social Media X accounts @gardainfo and @gardatraffic has been re-established.
An Garda Síochána X accounts will remain inactive over the coming days to allow the Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau carry out its investigations.
An Garda Síochána reiterates that this unauthorised access occurred on our X accounts on the X platform only.
An Garda Síochána can confirm third-party unauthorised access to two official Garda Social Media X accounts @gardainfo and @gardatraffic.
This unauthorised access has occurred on the X platform only.
An Garda Síochána is satisfied that there is no unauthorised access with any Garda systems and that there is no loss or impact on any Garda data.
An Garda Síochána is warning members of the public not to interact with any content posted on the @gardatraffic or @gardainfo X accounts, or accounts purporting to be these accounts.
An Garda Síochána continues to carry out our internal enquiries and work with the X platform to understand how this unauthorised access has occurred.
Meanwhile, there has been an increase in recent times in the number of X accounts that have been hacked.
Accounts belonging to journalists have also been accessed with users receiving an email stating the email address attached to their account has been changed. However, when they try to log into their accounts, they are unable to gain access. In some cases, the hacker sends messages from the customer’s account to other users.
While there is no way of speaking to a X support staff by telephone, there is a portal where users can complain to X. However, users receive little or no support from the automated service.