Bhubaneswar: Commissionerate Police have launched a probe to trace unidentified cyberattackers who allegedly hacked its official X account on Monday and used it to post cryptocurrency-related promotional content.The account remained compromised for nearly 24 hours before being restored on Tuesday by a team of cyber experts from the Commissionerate Police. Officials said efforts are underway to determine how the hackers gained access to the account and whether any security vulnerabilities were exploited.“We have initiated an investigation to identify the people responsible for accessing and misusing our official social media handle. Technical analysis is underway, and we are examining all possible digital footprints left behind by the perpetrators,” a senior police officer said.The incident caused considerable embarrassment for the police department, as the unauthorised posts remained visible on a verified law enforcement account for several hours during the Durga Puja festivities when citizens were relying on the account for traffic advisories and updates.Following the breach, senior officers directed the cyber wing to strengthen the security architecture of the official digital platforms and social media accounts to prevent similar incidents in future.Preliminary findings suggest the attackers may have used a virtual private network and other anonymising tools to conceal their identity and location, making the investigation more challenging.Police sources said the cyber experts are analysing login records, IP traces and account activity to establish the origin of the breach. The department is also reviewing its cybersecurity protocols, including account access controls and authentication mechanisms.
