Twitter says it is blocking access to “a third-party app” because some unknown cybercriminal reportedly used it to hack several famous accounts and subsequently post swastikas and pro-Turkish propaganda.
A number of highly followed Twitter accounts — including media outlet Forbes, Duke University and the Atlanta Police Department — posted tweets in Turkish, including words like “Nazi Germany” and “Nazi Holland,” according to Gizmodo and several other sites.
The hackers also attach a YouTube video that appears to support Turkey Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and is accredited to an account called “sebomubu.” Other organizations that were reportedly hacked were UNICEF, Starbucks Argentina, and Amnesty International.
Several verified accounts including Duke University & Amnesty International remain compromised following widespread hack #Nazialmanya pic.twitter.com/6GH5Byik9E
— Mikael Thalen (@MikaelThalen) March 15, 2017
Our Twitter account was hacked overnight along w/ hundreds of other high-profile accounts. We are strengthening our security. #twitterhack
— Atlanta Police Dept (@Atlanta_Police) March 15, 2017
The vulnerability that was exploited apparently stems from “Twitter Counter,” an Amsterdam-based social media analytics company.
“We are aware of an issue affecting a number of account holders this morning. Our teams are working at pace and taking direct action on this issue. We quickly located the source which was limited to a third party app. We removed its permissions immediately,” a spokesperson for Twitter told The Verge. “No additional accounts are impacted.”
Looks like the mass hack that’s hit a bunch of twitter accounts stems from https://t.co/UqLm4wUkbO pic.twitter.com/HCaB1wgjxh
— Alex Hern (@alexhern) March 15, 2017
many hundreds of accounts hacked in this #Nazialmanya hack; it’s in Turkish, says ‘Nazi Germany’ and ‘Nazi Holland’ and ‘see you April 16th’ pic.twitter.com/SOIsaYx1Sh
— Josh Butler (@JoshButler) March 15, 2017
Twitter Counter also says its investigating the situation and that people’s personal information is likely not in danger of theft.
We’re aware that our service was hacked and have started an investigation into the matter.We’ve already taken measures to contain such abuse
— TheCounter (@thecounter) March 15, 2017
One thing is important to note – we do not store users’ Twitter account credentials (passwords) nor credit card information.
— TheCounter (@thecounter) March 15, 2017
Assuming this abuse is indeed done using our system, we’ve blocked all ability to post tweets and changed our Twitter app key.
— TheCounter (@thecounter) March 15, 2017
The Twitter Counter application is blocked on Twitter. If this activity continues, then we strongly believe it’s not just through us.
— TheCounter (@thecounter) March 15, 2017
Due to the content of the posts, the hacker was probably trying to bring attention to the current divide between Turkey and its European partners.
Turkish ministers were banned from speaking Saturday at a rally in Rotterdam, Netherlands, after they were scheduled to voice their support of a referendum that would expand Erdogan’s powers in Turkey.
The Turkish leader called the Netherlands a “Nazi remnant” for revoking a foreign minister’s flight permit, and police were forced to use water cannons to stave off Turkish protesters outside the consulate in Rotterdam.
Netherlands Populist candidate Geert Wilders, who is best known for his criticism of Islam, dropped in the latest polls following the diplomatic crisis between his own home country and Turkey.
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