In a recent security breach, the social media account of Peter Beck, CEO of Rocket Lab USA Inc. (RKLB), was compromised, leading to a fraudulent post promoting a new crypto-based token.
On Wednesday, an unauthorized post appeared on Beck’s X account, formerly known as Twitter, promoting a new Ethereum (ETH/USD)-based token purportedly designed to fund space-related projects. This incident was reported by Reuters.
The fraudulent post, which has since been removed, highlighted the vulnerability of even prominent figures in the tech industry to social media hacking.
Rocket Lab, a major player in the small satellite launch market valued at $6.5 billion, confirmed that the account was compromised and is actively working with X to regain control.
“Peter’s account has been compromised, so this is not an official tweet. We are working with X to restore it,” a company spokesperson confirmed in an email to Reuters.
The incident comes just days after Rocket Lab announced the successful launch of its 54th Electron mission, deploying a single satellite to Low Earth Orbit for a confidential commercial customer.
Last month, Rocket Lab’s shares saw a surge following the Joe Biden administration’s plans to ease export restrictions on U.S. commercial space companies. This incident underscores the importance of cybersecurity measures to protect against such breaches.
The company’s focus on regaining control of the account and its ongoing efforts to restore trust in its online presence are likely to be key considerations in the aftermath of this incident.
