A Boston police department felt the wrath of computer hackers this weekend as reports claim its website was taken down and altered with rap veteran KRS-One’s “Sound of Da Police” hit.
According to reports, the police department’s website has been offline for 48 hours.
The Boston Police Department’s website remained offline for the second day after members of the hacking collective Anonymous defaced it. People trying to access it yesterday were redirected to the department’s Facebook page, a day after the hackers posted rapper KRS-One’s “Sound of Da Police” video, which criticizes police brutality. A police spokeswoman yesterday declined to discuss why the website has not been restored. (Boston Globe)
Boston police spokeswoman Elaine Driscoll has since addressed the hacking.
“It is unfortunate that someone would go to this extent to compromise BPDNews.com, a helpful and informative public safety resource utilized daily by community members seeking up-to-date news and information about important safety matters,” a statement from the department read in part. (Statement)
Speculation suggests the cyber attack is in relation to the Occupy Wall Street movement.
The public information website BPDNews.com was hacked to display the message, “ANONYMOUS HACKS BOSTON POLICE WEBSITE IN RETALIATION FOR POLICE BRUTALITY AT OWS,” the Boston Globe reported. “Do you remember a few months ago when #antisec attaked [sic] the Boston Police and released hundreds of passwords in retaliation for the brutality against Occupy Boston? They clearly ignored our warnings,” the site said. “So you get your kicks beating protesters? That’s OK; we get kicks defacing … your websites — again.” (My Fox Boston)
Hacker group Anonymous are known for targeting high profile organizations.
A message posted on the website Friday said, “Anonymous hacks Boston Police website in retaliation for police brutality at OWS.” That’s apparently a reference to Occupy Wall Street. A police spokeswoman on Saturday declined to say why the website has not been restored and refused to discuss measures authorities were taking to bolster the site. Anonymous is a collection of Internet enthusiasts, pranksters and activists whose targets have included Visa and MasterCard, the Church of Scientology and law enforcement agencies. (ABC 40)
Check out KRS-One’s “Sound of Da Police” below:
