The AP’s Twitter was just hacked, and an alarming tweet went out that sent the online world into a momentary frenzy:
The Dow Jones instantly dropped 100 points, as you can see in this chart from Google Finance:
Sam Hananel of AP quickly confirmed that it was a hack:
Please Ignore AP Tweet on explosions, we’ve been hacked.
— Sam Hananel (@SamHananelAP) April 23, 2013
AP did damage control on its Facebook page:
The White House confirmed the president is fine:
White House spokesman Carney says Obama is fine: @reuters
— Robert MacMillan (@bobbymacReports) April 23, 2013
TMZ is reporting that the group behind this Twitter hack is the same behind the leak of financial data of Michelle Obama, Joe Biden, Beyonce and other high-profile officials and celebrities. TMZ reports the same group, earlier today, “issued an ultimatum to the U.S. Government — either declare war on North Korea or they will detonate bombs at the White House …”
But the Syrian Electronic Army is claiming responsibility for today’s hack:
Ops! @ap get owned by Syrian Electronic Army! #SEA #Syria #ByeByeObama twitter.com/Official_SEA6/…
— SyrianElectronicArmy (@Official_SEA6) April 23, 2013
The Washington Post reports the Syrian Electronic Army “have hijacked a series of Twitter feeds over the last few weeks.”
