Hackers hijack Israeli Deputy PM's Twitter and Facebook pages; Update: Pages restored

Hackers have taken over the Twitter account of  Deputy Israeli Prime Minister Silvan Shalom, using the account to tweet out emphatic and sometimes obscene messages about the action in Gaza. Various rumors are circulating about whether the hacker group Anonymous is involved, but nothing has been confirmed.

His Facebook account was also hacked. (Update, 8:23 pm ET: It is now back to normal.)

https://twitter.com/SilvanShalom/status/271039639459082244

https://twitter.com/SilvanShalom/status/271041245781041153

https://twitter.com/SilvanShalom/status/271041755305103363

https://twitter.com/SilvanShalom/status/271042215680282625

https://twitter.com/SilvanShalom/status/271043472994230273

https://twitter.com/SilvanShalom/status/271044033491640320

https://twitter.com/SilvanShalom/status/271045437648171008

https://twitter.com/SilvanShalom/status/271046558227771392

https://twitter.com/SilvanShalom/status/271047987399127040

https://twitter.com/SilvanShalom/status/271049318092386305

https://twitter.com/SilvanShalom/status/271051628617007105

https://twitter.com/SilvanShalom/status/271052344744103937

https://twitter.com/SilvanShalom/status/271053418951483392

https://twitter.com/SilvanShalom/status/271054282776788992

https://twitter.com/SilvanShalom/status/271058238588469248

Update: Russia Today is reporting that the hacker group Anonymous is responsible:

#Anonymous hacks #Israeli deputy PM's Facebook, Twitter to voice support for #Gaza http://t.co/Infi5vvi

— RT (@RT_com) November 21, 2012

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But this appears to be incorrect. A different group of hackers,  Z Company Hacking Crew, is claiming responsibility. Someone has changed the background image on Shalom’s Twitter page to the following:

Someone is leaving comments at the Russia Today article (linked above) insisting that Z Company Hacking Crew deserves credit.

Regardless of who is responsible, some Twitter users are delighted:

https://twitter.com/TheRealAgent99/status/271059226237997056

pretty hilarious stuff happening with Israel's Vice Prime Minister's twitter account! @SilvanShalom You've been hacked war criminal!

— Nidal X (@palestinevoiced) November 21, 2012

LOLOLOLOL!!! RT @haaretzcom: #Anonymous hactivists hijack Israeli Deputy Prime Minister @SilvanShalom's Twitter account http://t.co/uFyZkYWi

— Michelle (@Michelle9647) November 21, 2012

I love @SilvanShalom's new tweets..hack was the best thing that could possibly happen to his account. lol #OpIsrael #FreePalestine

— Bourbon Kid (@Knuubbel) November 21, 2012

* * *

As of 8:27 pm ET, the hackers still have control of Shalom’s account:

https://twitter.com/SilvanShalom/status/271058904484569088

https://twitter.com/SilvanShalom/status/271060492154449920

https://twitter.com/SilvanShalom/status/271061248022552576

https://twitter.com/SilvanShalom/status/271065960918687744

https://twitter.com/SilvanShalom/status/271068179588059136

https://twitter.com/SilvanShalom/status/271068775086948352

Update:

Hackers also managed to break into Shalom’s YouTube account and post a video highlighting their recent exploits.

https://twitter.com/IkramMardhani/statuses/271081342656184320

Update: Shortly after 9 a.m. ET Wednesday, the hackers’ tweets and background image were deleted from Shalom’s Twitter account. The obscene banner image is still on Shalom’s account as of 9:40 a.m.

Update:

The hacked banner image has been removed. Shalom has not tweeted about the hacking.