Cyber Crime and Cyber Terrorism

109
 
Political/publicity/self-actualization: the case of the syrian electronic army
A friend hacked and defaced @Angrybirds website after reports confirms its spy-
ing on people. The attack was by “Anti-NSA” Hacker, He sent an email to our 
official email with the link of the hacked website.
(
www.twitter
 com/offcial_SEA16)
The attack was in connection to a supposed NSA report which claimed that US 
and UK spy agencies (i.e., GCHQ) could access personal information—such as age 
and date of birth from the mobile app third-party advertising companies. Rovio (the 
app makers company) released a statement which said that they have not collaborated 
or colluded with any government spy agencies anywhere in the world (
Rovio, 2014
). 
Such a small defacement to a website by an outside source demonstrates a weakness 
in the sites security whilst also helping to publicize the supposed compromise of the 
personal data of its users.
MICROSOFT (JANUARY 2014)
January 2014 saw several attacks by the SEA on Microsoft. Reportedly through 
Phishing tactics the SEA gained access to employee social media and email ac-
counts being impacted. They tweeted the following from @MSFTnews account: 
“Syrian Electronic Army Was Here via @Official_SEA16 #sea
”
which was re-
moved quickly. Another tweet said: 
“
Don't use Microsoft emails (hotmail, outlook), 
They are monitoring your accounts and selling the data to the governments #SEA 
@Official_SEA16.”
Berkman (2014)
has reportedly contacted the SEA and received the following 
response when asked why they targeted Microsoft:
Microsoft is monitoring emails accounts and selling the data for the American 
intelligence and other governments.
And we will publish more details and documents that prove it.
Microsoft is not our enemy but what they are doing affected the SEA.