Yesterday at 22:04
On April 17, interference in the work of the Ukrainian foreign broadcasting channel FREEDOM via the Hot Bird 13G satellite was observed. Hackers jammed the signal and temporarily replaced the content of the FREEDOM channel.
On April 17, at 15:06, the technical services of the State Enterprise “MPIU” recorded the absence of the FREEDOM broadcasting signal on the Hot Bird 13G satellite. The purpose of the attack was to replace the FREEDOM broadcasting with different content. Instead of the FREEDOM channel, viewers could see broadcasting of a channel with the logo “ZA ZHYZN!” (“FOR LIFE!”).
Other satellites, in the networks of cable, IPTV and OTT operators that broadcast FREEDOM, were not affected, except for those that receive a signal for broadcasting through Hot Bird 13G. At 15:24, the satellite broadcasting of FREEDOM through Hot Bird 13G was resumed.
With a statement on the interference in the work of the FREEDOM TV channel via the Hot Bird 13G satellite, the State Enterprise “MPIU” appealed to the Cybersecurity Situation Centre of the Security Service of Ukraine. Also, French law enforcement agencies are looking into the issue of interference in the work of the satellite operator Eutelsat, which owns the Hot Bird 13G satellite.
Hot Bird 13G is one of the most powerful and popular satellites, its coverage area spans Europe (including the European part of the Russian Federation), the countries of Central Asia, the northern coast of Africa and the Middle East.
As previously reported, the sites of the State Enterprise “MPIU” are subjected to constant attacks by hackers. In particular, interference in the work of the Ukrainian international broadcasting channels FREEDOM and Dim on the Hot Bird 13G satellite was observed on March 16.
