Facebook page hacked, but services continue uninterrupted according to AOT
The Airports of Thailand (AOT) Plc recently experienced a hack on their official Facebook page, joining a growing list of high-profile organizations targeted by cyber attacks. The hack, which occurred on Saturday at 4:20 pm, resulted in the renaming of the page to "Everyday Yum Recipes."
In response to the incident, Meta Platforms was informed to take action to recover the hacked page. The AOT Plc issued a statement on their website, confirming that airport operations and passenger services remain unaffected by the hack.
The recovery process for hacked official Facebook pages typically involves several steps:
- Immediate Incident Response:
- Changing account passwords and enabling two-factor authentication (2FA) to prevent further unauthorized access.
- Notifying Facebook through the official Help Center or using their compromised account reporting tools.
- Verifying identity with Facebook via government ID or organizational authorization to regain access.
- Review and Remove Unauthorized Content:
- Carefully auditing recent posts, edits, and messages to remove any malicious or deceptive content posted by hackers.
- Security Assessment:
- Conducting an internal assessment to identify how the breach occurred and plugging security gaps.
- Updating all associated credentials and security protocols.
- Communications:
- Officially informing followers and stakeholders about the hack and recovery to rebuild trust and issue warnings about any fraudulent messages sent during the breach.
- Preventive Measures:
- Training staff on phishing awareness and social media security.
- Employing advanced security solutions or managed service providers for continuous monitoring.
Phishing remains the primary attack vector, with over half of organizations facing phishing scams weekly or daily. Human error contributes to around 60% of security breaches, making official social media accounts vulnerable.
While specific hack frequency data for entities like Airports of Thailand is not publicly detailed, the widespread nature of phishing and credential leaks suggests that official organization pages regularly face such threats. Recovery follows the standard Facebook account restoration process, with an emphasis on enhanced security and transparent communication.
Organizations must maintain vigilant security practices for their official pages to protect against these types of attacks and ensure the integrity of their online presence.
[1] Source: Stajano, F., & Wilson, P. (2018). Facebook and Its Users: A Case Study in Privacy. Communications of the ACM, 61(1), 10-17. [2] Source: Verizon 2019 Data Breach Investigations Report. (2019). Retrieved from https://www.verizonenterprise.com/resources/reports/rp_dbir-2019-report-email.pdf [3] Source: Ponemon Institute. (2017). 2017 Cost of Phishing Study: UK. Retrieved from https://www.ponemon.org/2017-cost-of-phishing-study-uk/
- Given the international nature of cybersecurity threats, it is crucial for businesses like Airports of Thailand to employ advanced technology solutions for their official pages, ensuring regular security assessments and 2FA implementation to mitigate the risks of phishing attacks and safeguard their online presence.
- In the aftermath of a cyber attack on their Facebook page, Airports of Thailand Plc must prioritize the review and removal of unauthorized content, while also communicating transparently with their followers and stakeholders about the incident, emphasizing preventive measures such as phishing awareness training and continuous monitoring to rebuild trust and maintain robust cybersecurity protocols.
