Anonymous takes over Syria's Ministry of Defense site

David Swan
Monday, 08 August 2011 15:48

Business IT - Security

Infamous hacker collective Anonymous has commandeered the website of Syria's Ministry of Defense, changing it to criticize the "brutal regime" of Bashar Al-Assad.

 

 

The website (with a full cache available here) features the Anonymous logo along with messages to the Syrian people and members of the Syrian military.

The message to the Syrian people is a message of support and empathy, including lines such as, "know that time and history are on your side - tyrants use violence because they have nothing else, and the more violent they are, the more fragile they become."

The message directed at members of the Syrian military is more of a call to arms, directing them to "defend your country - rise up against the regime!"

The site also includes links to Al Jazeera and 'Free Syria' blogs, along with the hashtag #operationfreedom.

The hack follows a series of protests and general unrest in both Syria and the wider Middle Eastern region, with Saudi Arabia today pulling its ambassador from Syria.

The government there has been accused of severe attacks against its own civilians, who have been largely protesting peacefull against the regime.

The stunt is the latest in a long line of Anonymous pranks, the targets of which range from children's destination Habbo Hotel to the SOHH (Support Online Hip Hop) website.

This latest attack seems to be one of their most serious, and successful.