By Luanne Teoh on 10-19-2011

The Twitter hack count keeps rising as the accounts of prominent news sources, celebrities and political figures keeps getting hacked. Recently, a group calling itself The Script Kiddies hacked into USA Today’s Twitter account and used it to solicit requests for future targets as well as to promote its own Facebook account.

Days before the 9/11 anniversary of ground zero, NBC News’ Twitter account was hacked by The Script Kiddies who posted bogus messages claiming that Flight 4782 has been hijacked and another plane crashed into the site where the Twin Towers collapsed ten years ago.

The message read “This is not a joke, Ground Zero has just been attacked. We’re attempting to get reporters on the scene. #groundzeroattacked.” – The FBI has since gotten involved with monitoring The Script Kiddie’s activities.

In 2009 CNN anchor, Rick Sanchez’s Twitter account was hacked with the message below:

The Script Kiddies were also responsible for hacking into @FoxNewsPolitics and posted a series of messages declaring that President Obama had been assassinated in Iowa by an unknown shooter on the eve of the Fourth of July this year.

In relation to the Fox News hack, a member of The Script Kiddies said, “We are looking to find information about corporations to assist with antisec. Fox News was selected because we figured their security would be just as much of a joke as their reporting.”

The group is believed to be an offshoot of the hacker group Anonymous. By hiding behind the veil of a computer screen and anonymity, the group shows a callous disregard to human tragedy and is arrogant in their campaign of misinformation through messages on hacked accounts.

Last year, a French man known as “Hacker Croll” as his online pseudonym, hacked into President Obama’s Twitter account by guessing the password. French authorities reportedly worked with the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation to monitor Hacker Croll’s online activities and whereabouts, and to eventually bring him to justice.

A couple of weeks ago, the Prime Minister of Thailand, Yingluck Shinawatra’s Twitter account was hacked and a series of mocking messages followed which included “This country is a business. We work for our allies, not for the Thai people. We work for those who support us, not those who differ with us,” said one tweet.

Social media is one of the most effective ways to spread news, interact and even to topple oppressive governments like we have seen in the middle east. However, when placed in the wrong hands of hackers, social media becomes a more sinister medium.

About Luanne Teoh

Luanne is a senior correspondent for BizTechDay focused on Small Business Tech, Mobile and China based in San Francisco. Apart from a keen interest in technology, Luanne is also and avid explorer of the globe, cultures and people.

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