Hackers Fill Government Websites With Pro-ISIS Propaganda

Bryan Michalek | June 27, 2017
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In a wide-ranging hacking attack over the weekend, multiple U.S. state government websites saw their homepages altered to display pro-ISIS propaganda. Reports indicate that the attack has already affected up to four states.

The attack occurred between June 25-26, and affected government websites in Ohio, Maryland, New York and Washington State. The group that's reportedly responsible, “Team System DZ,” left a link to their Facebook page along with the words “Hacked by Team System DZ” on each hacked homepage.

The hack altered the web pages to show an ISIS symbol along with text saying, “Anti: Govt all word...You will be held accountable Trump, you and all your people for every drop of blood flowing in Muslim countries...I Love Islamic State.”

A few sources claim the hacking group is described as a coalition of “anti-Israeli Arab teenagers,” according to Zone-H, the largest web intrusions archive.

 



 

In a statement from spokesperson David Johnson, Washington state’s Department of Health confirmed that parts of their site had been affected. 

According to WKYC, Ohio’s affected sites included the Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections, Casino Control, Ohio First Lady, Office of Workforce Transformation, Office of Health Transformation, Inspector General, Ohio Governor, and Medicaid.

The propaganda also showed up on Howard County, Maryland’s website as well as Brookhaven's website in New York.

Experts say they believe the hackers did not take any information. Joseph Marquette, president and founder of Accellis Technology Group in Cleveland, explained, “It’s really more of something called ‘hacktivism’ where they’re just looking to promote their own cause, create some measure of fear, but if they were truly looking to steal information or data, odds are they were gonna do it in a much more subversive and secretive way."

Others were slightly more cautious. Ohio Treasurer Josh Mandel posted in response to the attack, “Wake up freedom-loving Americans. Radical Islam infiltrating the heartland."

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