Radio hijacks reveal broadcast gear flaws after FCC warning

DataBreaches[.]Net reports that a string of radio hijacks is highlighting what appears to be a persistent weakness in the broadcast chain. Posted on 8 April 2026, the piece notes that the FCC warned in November about intrusions tied to exposed broadcast audio equipment, where attackers hijacked studio-to-transmitter links and aired obscene material along with actual or simulated Emergency Alert System tones.

The author cites a hijack of 107.7 The Bay in Michigan, where listeners heard sped-up Disney music, fake alert-style audio and then silence around 6 p.m. on 5 April, confirmed through FCC records though the exact timeline, duration and method remain unclear. According to FCC, attackers often gained access to improperly secured Barix equipment and reconfigured it to carry attacker-controlled audio. The analysis suggests these incidents are less like isolated stunts and more like warnings of a broader broadcast-chain vulnerability.