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
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.
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