The most-viewed video of all time on YouTube, Despacito, wasn’t quite itself earlier today.
Hackers somehow slipped past Vevo’s online security defences to deface the graphics of the track.
People pressing play on the song were confronted by a group of people wearing masks and holding guns – (pictured and since identified as a still from Spanish TV series Money Heist).
A number of other pop music videos, including those by Drake, Katy Perry and Taylor Swift, were also edited.
The hackers, who have been identified as Prosox and Kuroi’sh, replaced the titles of videos with their own messages – including the words “free Palestine” in one case.
“Vevo can confirm that a number of videos in its catalogue were subject to a security breach today, which has now been contained.”
Vevo has now admitted the security breach, and confirmed that the original version of the videos are now back online.
A Vevo spokesperson said: “Vevo can confirm that a number of videos in its catalogue were subject to a security breach today, which has now been contained.
“We are working to reinstate all videos affected and our catalogue to be restored to full working order. We are continuing to investigate the source of the breach.”
And a spokesperson for YouTube commented: “After seeing unusual upload activity on a handful of VEVO channels, we worked quickly with our partner to disable access while they investigate the issue.”
Vevo previously suffered a security breach in September last year when the firm’s internal files were obtained and then leaked online.
Despacito recently surpassed 5bn views on YouTube.Music Business Worldwide
