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Hackers hijack Iranian state TV via Badr satellite to broadcast Reza Pahlavi message

Hackers briefly hijacked Iranian state television satellite transmissions, using the Badr feed to air footage supporting exiled crown prince Reza Pahlavi and urging security forces "do not point your weapons at the people." The disruption came amid nationwide protests and targeted influence over state broadcast channels.

Discovered 2026-01-18T13:05:20.020643-08:00 | 2026-01-18T13:05:20.020643-08:00

Briefing

What Hype is tracking

  • The attack replaced official state broadcasts with opposition footage via the Badr satellite, demonstrating a successful broadcast hijack of satellite transmission infrastructure.
  • The messaging directly appealed to security forces and supported exiled crown prince Reza Pahlavi amid nationwide protests, showing how compromised broadcasts can amplify political unrest.
  • Broadcasters, satellite operators and regulators may need to reassess uplink security, access controls and incident response after a high-profile breach of a major satellite feed.

Reported By

theglobeandmail.com CBC Times of India NBC News CTV News The Independent
Sources Tracked
16
First Seen
2026-01-18T13:05:20.020643-08:00
Latest Update
2026-01-19T20:19:28.032041-08:00
Coverage
Defense

Sources

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