Hackers whose identities are still unknown have gained entry into two leading news stations of India, namely TV9 Telugu and Freedom TV Kannada, and have hijacked their live broadcast system, causing panic within the Indian media and IT circles. The incident of hacking of the Indian news channels while broadcasting the Pakistani national anthem took place at the most sensitive period of the Indian President’s speech.
Indian news channels hacked, hackers interrupted the speech of the president and played the national anthem of Pakistan in place of the speech. There was a warning message along with the national anthem that was issued by the hackers for those who they thought were meddling with Pakistan.
The Scale of the Breach
The breached channels have substantial viewership as follows:
- TV9 Telugu – approximately 14 million followers on social media sites
- Freedom TV Kannada – in excess of 1 million followers
The size of the viewership means that when the Indian news channels hack of the Pakistani national anthem was aired, it reached an enormous number of viewers instantly – clips being shared instantly on social media sites even before corrective action could be taken to revert to normal broadcasting.
Message Imbedded within the Hack
Not only did the hackers disrupt the broadcast, but they conveyed a message as well. The use of the national anthem during the address by the president along with the imbedded warning message converts this event into something beyond a technical interruption and makes it a political statement, carefully planned and designed for maximum effect.
The Cybersecurity Blunders of India under Scrutiny
The recent hacking of the Pakistani national anthem by India’s news channels case has sparked debates regarding the cyber preparedness of the nation once again. The experts who gave their opinion on the matter were very clear and precise with their observations.
“India’s information technology system, which claims to be a Vishwa Guru and Shining India, is completely insecure.”
Technology security experts
The technology and security experts noted that India, which prides itself as an emerging information technology superpower and is often associated with the term “Vishwa Guru,” failed to ensure the safety of two prominent news channels’ broadcasting system against any outside intrusion.
This incident brings to light some very disturbing questions regarding the strength of cybersecurity protocols in India’s media industry. Given that the broadcasting system used to air the president’s speech can be compromised from the outside, this problem goes far beyond the domain of media.
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Information Warfare between India and Pakistan
The timing and circumstances of the incident involving the Indian news channels hacking the Pakistani national anthem were not isolated incidents. It has been noted that in the India-Pakistan information landscape, things have become increasingly contentious, with propaganda and counter-propaganda flying back and forth.
According to experts who were interviewed by both the Indian and Pakistani media regarding this incident, the reason why the hack was carried out was due to the fact that there were sustained anti-Pakistani narratives being portrayed through India’s media outlets.
What Happens Now
India has yet to confirm the perpetrators behind the hack. While investigation into hacks involving broadcast networks generally takes quite some time, making any rash conclusions is dangerous given the existing tensions between India and Pakistan.
For the Indian media industry, the incident of the Indian news channels hacked during the Pakistan anthem is a warning in itself. The security of broadcasting networks – which were never a high priority in terms of cybersecurity next to finances and military – is an urgent issue indeed. Interrupting a live presidential address with a foreign anthem broadcasted on a channel that has 14 million subscribers is not a minor mistake.
Nayab Fatima is a media professional specializing in fact-based journalism, research, and analytical reporting on technology, telecom, aviation, and automobiles.
