“We are still unable to access any of our social media platforms at this time,” the Director General of Government Communications, Maurice Merchant, told Observer media yesterday.
“This has significantly impacted our ability to communicate directly with our regular subscribers, but we are working diligently to resolve the issue,” Merchant said.
Earlier on Tuesday, the Communications Unit within the Office of the Prime Minister announced that it had lost control of its Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, X (formerly Twitter), and Threads services, and as a result, this had affected its communication with over 20,000 subscribers.
Initial investigations revealed that a mobile device was infected with malware, rendering it inoperable. The device is currently with technicians who are working to identify the specific software used in the attack.
The incident has had broader implications, with the unit reporting that years of photo files and word-processing documents stored on their network are no longer accessible.
Officials are currently assessing the extent of the data loss.
For the time being, while working with Meta Platforms Inc to regain access to their social media accounts, the Communications Unit has temporarily shifted to alternate channels, including the Government of Antigua and Barbuda’s YouTube platform and other local social media pages to maintain public communication.
The Unit has requested patience from its subscribers as they work to restore their social media presence.
Early last month, the Director of the Cyber Security and Communications Department within the Ministry of Information Communication Technologies, Gordina Hector-Murrell, had advised residents to be extremely vigilant since Cyber security attacks were on the increase.
