Malaysia Airlines Hacked: Notorious Lizard Squad Attacks Website, Experts Say Customers at Risk
A hacker group, already infamous for ruining Christmas for new PlayStation and Xbox users, could now be involved a new incident. The Lizard Squad allegedly hacked into Malaysia Airlines’ website.
The Lizard Squad, the same gropu who brought down the PlayStation Network and Xbox Live on Christmas last year, claimed responsibility for taking over Malaysia Airlines’ website on Sunday, according to Reuters. The group posted an image of a lizard donning a top hat and a monocle on the airlines website and added a headings “404 - Plane Not Found” and “Hacked by Lizard Squad - Official Cyber Caliphate.” It is uncertain whether the same group that took over U.S. Central Command’s Twitter and Facebook accounts, who used the name “Cyber Caliphate.”
Allegedly the website had also said, “ISIS will prevail,” but the message was removed soon after. Malaysia Airlines said passengers’ information was secure. However, the hacker group claimed otherwise on Twitter.
Going to dump some loot found on https://t.co/D9XYneQoaK servers soon
— Lizard Squad (@LizardMafia) January 26, 2015
Nonetheless, the airline contends that the hacker group does not presently have control over its website.
"Malaysia Airlines confirms that its Domain Name System (DNS) has been compromised where users are re-directed to a hacker website when www.malaysiaairlines.com URL is keyed in," Malaysia Airlines said in a statement, according to ABC News. "At this stage, Malaysia Airlines' web servers are intact. The airline has resolved the issue with its service provider and the system is expected to be fully recovered within 22 hours."
However, obtaining secured information concerning airline flights is a serious matter, according to Robert Siciliano, an online safety expert to Intel Security.
"Making claims of data theft is serious and should be taken seriously," he told ABC News. "Those who have information stored on the site, such as personal information and credit card numbers should take heed and take steps to ensure their accounts are secure. Monitor statements looking for unauthorized activity. Beware of phishy emails and avoid clicking links. Otherwise pay attention to news reports and look for the airline to send out a communication."
Whether the Lizard Squad obtained the information it is uncertain, but authorities are aware of the group’s actions.
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