The United States Federal Reserve experienced a shocking intrusion in April 2021 when a pornographer hijacked an official Zoom conference. In the middle of a virtual meeting, which was taking place to discuss economic policy, obscene images and videos appeared on the screen. The intruder, who was using a false name, began to direct viewers to a pornographic website.
The incident happened during a regularly scheduled meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC). In this meeting, members of the FOMC discuss the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy, with the aim of promoting financial stability and long-term economic growth.
This incident is particularly concerning due to the amount of sensitive data and high-level discussions that take place in these meetings. It serves to highlight the vulnerability of government data to those wishing to cause harm, particularly in the realm of cybersecurity. Fortunately, the intrusion was quickly addressed by the Federal Reserve, who were able to successfully remove the offender from the meeting.
The Federal Reserve were not the only victims of such an attack – similar incidents have happened in other settings, including online classes and day care video conferences. This speaks to the need for increased cybersecurity measures, particularly in the area of video conferencing apps. Video conferencing platforms, such as Zoom, should take additional precautions in order to prevent unauthorized access to meetings and other functions.
Given the common use of video conferencing for remote meetings, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, it is concerning that such intrusions can occur. This is why it is crucial for governing bodies to take extra steps in order to ensure the safety and security of the data they have access to. As this incident demonstrates, there could be serious consequences if the necessary steps are not taken.
