USA_ Thanksgiving attack: Syrian hackers strike U.S. media websites

Examiner.com

Thanksgiving attack: Syrian hackers strike U.S. media websites

Jim Kouri
Law Enforcement Examiner
November 27, 2014

American,Canadian and European news organizations claimed on Thanksgiving Day that their websites were hacked by a group identifying themselves as the Syrian Electronic Army (SEA), a cyber-terrorist group that is allied with Syria's Assad regime.

Websites belonging to broadcast and print media organizations have been targeted by the SEA. The group also posted messages on Twitter reading: "You've been hacked by the Syrian Electronic Army (SEA)." Meanwhile the SEA logo appeared on other sites. News outlets hacked included the Chicago Tribune, Britain's left-wing newspaper The Guardian, Forbes Magazine, London's The Telegraph and Italy's La Repubblica. The error message appeared to some users of CNBC.com.

"While there was no serious damage to the websites or the IT systems at the targeted companies, I think these hackers just wanted to show the world that they are capable of compromising cybersecurity programs used by corporate entities," said Lloyd Ellison, a former police cybercrime investigator. "The fact that a nation such as Syria has the ability through proxy hackers to attack U.S. IT systems is very disturbing," he added.

The SEA attack is believed by some experts to be part of a global cyber conspiracy to infiltrate sites using popular third-party comment platform Gigya, according to media reports. While the U.S. government has upgraded some of its information technology protection, Congress is still formulating legislation to address cyber terrorism.

Anyone entering targeted websites were greeted with pop-ups that read: “You have been hacked by the Syrian Electronic Army (SEA)” or they were given a view of SEA's logo. On a message posted on Twitter.com, the SEA stated: “Happy [sic] thanks giving, hope you didn't miss us! To the press: Please don't pretend #ISIS are civilians. signed: #SEA”

ISIS, or the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, is a Sunni terrorist group that split from al-Qaida in Iraq, at one time a branch of the original al-Qaida. ISIS has been successful in taking over territory in Syria and Iraq and continues to battle the regime of Syrian President Bashir al-Assad. The U.S launched an aerial bombing campaign against the group.

Besides the U.S. media being hacked, in England, The Independent, The Evening Standard, and The Telegraph were all affected, while The Canadian site CBC News also said it had been hacked. The hackers allegedly hit some professional sports organizations including the National Hockey League (NHL), as well.

Suggested Links

* Syrians indicted, arrested on immigration fraud charges
* Syrian surprise: Al-Qaeda branch kills rebel leaders; invades oil field
* Syria's neighbor Iraq in midst of violent upheaval
* ISIS: FBI releases BOLO on American suspects going overseas for jihad
* Al-Qaida-linked Islamists crucifying prisoners in Syrian rebellion


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