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The Supreme Court of India faced a cyber security incident on Friday when its official YouTube channel was hacked. The hackers exploited the channel to display promotional content for a cryptocurrency developed by US-based company Ripple Labs. This incident highlights the vulnerability of even high-profile institutions to cyberattacks and underscores the importance of robust security measures.
The compromised channel initially displayed a blank video titled "Brad Garlinghouse: Ripple Responds To The SEC's $2 Billion Fine! XRP PRICE PREDICTION." This incident resulted in the temporary suspension of the Supreme Court's YouTube channel, which the court announced through a notice posted on its official website. The notice informed the public that the channel was taken down and services would be resumed shortly.
However, the court's YouTube channel was restored later on Friday. Another notice on the website informed all concerned that the channel was live and functional again. This restoration is a testament to the court's swift response to the security breach and its commitment to maintaining uninterrupted access to its online platforms.
The Supreme Court has been utilizing YouTube to stream live hearings of important cases, particularly those involving public interest and matters before the Constitution benches. This practice was initiated following a landmark decision in 2018, where the court unanimously resolved to live-stream proceedings of all Constitution bench hearings. The hacking incident serves as a reminder that ensuring the security of online platforms, especially those that disseminate sensitive information, is crucial.
The Supreme Court's swift response in restoring its YouTube channel demonstrates its commitment to ensuring the continued accessibility of important legal proceedings to the public. However, this incident underscores the ongoing threat of cyberattacks and the need for robust security measures to safeguard critical digital assets. This incident should encourage a review of security practices and a focus on enhancing cyber resilience in institutions and organizations that rely heavily on online platforms.