Tupac website 'hoax' exposes security flaws
By Ashley Curtis
01/06/2011
In a alarming lack of security, hackers have managed to infiltrate a news site and post a hoax story about late hip-hop artist Tupac Shakur, reports Daily Mail.
American broadcaster PBS had allegedly posted a news story about the rapper still being alive and residing in New Zealand, living close to other late rapper Biggie Smalls.
The hack shows just how important it is for firms to install an antivirus and network detection program as part of a systems management software initiative. It is hoped that any hackers could be located and eradicated at the first sign of intrusion on a network.
A hacktivist group, known as LulzSec, have taken responsibility for the hacking, stating the breach occurred due to a program, 'WikiSecrets', aired by the broadcaster. The program, which spoke to U.S. Army Private Bradley Manning's father a close friends, had "less than impressed" the hacking collective.
David Fanning, executive producer, described the hack as "disappointing and irresponsible", stating to Metro: "We have been very open to publishing criticism of the film...and the film included other points of view."
Teresa Gorman, who works in social media and online engagement for the PBS programme NewsHour, took to Twitter in response to the breach and explained the group could be hacking even further: "Thanks for your concern - we are aware there is more than the Tupac story being hacked right now."
