Reuters: Loudspeaker systems at airports in Canada and America were hacked to broadcast messages praising Hamas news

Reuters reported, based on officials and news reports, that electronic hackers took control of public loudspeaker systems last Tuesday at 4 airports, 3 of which were in Canada and one in the United States, to broadcast messages praising Hamas and criticizing US President Donald Trump.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police in Kelowna said an “advertising streaming service” at Kelowna International Airport in British Columbia “was briefly compromised and unauthorized content was posted.”

The police added that they were investigating the hack with other devices and declined to provide further details.

The hackers broadcast messages and music over the loudspeaker system at Victoria International Airport in British Columbia, according to an airport spokesman.

The spokesman said that the hackers penetrated third-party software to enter the loudspeaker system, and the airport switched to an internal system to regain control.

American investigation

For his part, US Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy said on social media on Wednesday that the hackers also took control of the loudspeaker system at Harrisburg International Airport in Pennsylvania.

He added that the Federal Aviation Administration and airport officials are investigating the matter.

Hackers also breached flight information displays and speaker system Tuesday evening at Windsor International Airport in Ontario, displaying “unauthorized images and advertisements,” according to airport officials.

The airport said in a statement that the hack occurred “in a software provider” used by the airport, adding, “Our systems returned to normal shortly thereafter.”