The Cuban regime's Foreign Ministry, known as MINREX, has accused "malicious actors" of hacking into its YouTube account. "The Foreign Ministry of the Republic of Cuba reports that its official YouTube channel was recently compromised by malicious actors," stated the ministry in a communiqué released on Monday.
The statement labels the hacking incident as "a manifestation of cybercrime," which it claims is part of ongoing digital harassment practices repeatedly reported by Cuban institutions. "The Foreign Ministry condemns this attack and clarifies that any content published while the account was compromised does not represent the position of the Cuban government, this Ministry, or any Cuban institution," the communiqué adds.
Furthermore, the ministry announced that it is "working in coordination with relevant technical authorities to fully regain control of the channel, enhance its security, and prevent future occurrences of this nature."
"We reiterate our strong rejection of these illegal practices and our determination to defend Cuba's truth and sovereign voice in all digital spaces," the statement concludes. As of this writing, the cubaminrex cu account has been restored. The content disseminated by the hackers has not been disclosed.
In January, Cuba's official account on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) was hacked to promote an alleged cryptocurrency linked to the country. This incident was also denounced by MINREX, describing it as an "act of cybercrime."
The attack involved posting messages that encouraged users to invest in a cryptocurrency based on Solana, dubbed "Cuban Digital Coin." These messages included links that directed users to external sites, seemingly designed to scam internet users.
Last April, the state-run Canal Caribe YouTube channel was hacked, disrupting its digital presence for several hours with unauthorized content related to cryptocurrencies.
Understanding Cybersecurity Challenges in Cuba
What steps has MINREX taken to secure its YouTube account?
MINREX is coordinating with technical authorities to fully regain control of its YouTube channel, enhance security measures, and prevent future hacking incidents.
How did the hackers exploit the Cuban Foreign Ministry's account?
The hackers compromised the account to publish content that does not reflect the views of the Cuban government, although the specific content has not been disclosed.
What other Cuban platforms have been targeted by hackers?
In addition to the Foreign Ministry's YouTube account, the official account on social media platform X and the state-run Canal Caribe YouTube channel have also been targeted by hackers.