Hackers Zoombomb foreign ministry's historic launch of JAM-DEM platform
Published:Wednesday | January 31, 2024 | 12:26 AMJanet Silvera/Senior Gleaner Writer -
WESTERN BUREAU:
Hackers yesterday infiltrated a Zoom meeting attended by more than 60 members of the diaspora who were invited to witness the historic launch of the new JAM-DEM (Jamaica Diaspora Engagement Model) virtual platform.
The platform aims to provide them with closer access to business opportunities in Jamaica.
However, within just 30 minutes of signing on to Zoom, the attendees' view of the ceremony took an unexpected turn. Instead of witnessing the presentation of historic documents to Alando Terrelonge, minister of state in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, participants were subjected to explicit content, a foreign language, and videos featuring Lady Gaga.
The unfortunate incident highlights the vulnerability of online events to cyber threats, raising concerns about the security measures in place for such virtual gatherings. It also served as a reminder for organisers to prioritise robust cybersecurity measures when hosting important online events, especially those with wide-reaching implications.
The practice is called Zoombombing, and is derived from the Zoom videoconferencing software programme, but it has also been used to refer to the phenomenon on other videoconferencing sites.
“I logged off because there was a security threat. When you are hacked like that, the people who are on the call can access and infect your computer, and if you stay long enough they can take all your information,” Peter Gracey, a member of the Global Diaspora Council for the Southern United States, told The Gleaner.
He said he ended the call and rejoined about four or five times, but the unwanted intrusion was still disrupting the meeting.
“I just decided to log off, so we didn’t get an opportunity to witness the handover.”
Gracey said the participants were from all over the diaspora, as far as Africa. It was during the time that the youth representative for the North East United States was speaking that the hackers interrupted.
The handover did however go on, as that aspect was done face-to-face in Jamaica at the foreign affairs ministry in downtown Kingston.
Shauna Chin, vice chair of the Global Diaspora Council, based in California, was also online when the meeting was hijacked. She was quick to point out that this was not unusual. However, she warned that hosts of the meetings must ensure, prior to the gathering, that they change options on the Zoom platform to host only.
“Otherwise, anyone is likely to take over the meeting, which was what happened to us.”
A source in the ministry said an investigation has been launched into the incident.
READ: New virtual platform to strengthen diaspora connections