The page that the hackers placed on U.S. government websites. (Twitter)
Pro-ISIS hackers have targeted a string of U.S. government websites, although it’s not clear why the targets were chosen.
They range from Ohio Governor John Kasich to the Brookhaven, Long Island website. The hacking group calls itself “Team System DZ.”
The sites were replaced with black backgrounds and music. A message on the pages read: “Hacked By Team System DZ” and, below that message, the following: “Anti: Govt all word. You will be held accountable Trump, you and all your people for every drop of blood flowing in Muslim countries.” The hacked pages also said, “I Love Islamic state” and listed the Team System DZ Facebook page, according to WKYC.
That Facebook page contains anti American propaganda, including this recent somewhat garbled message, “It is strange that the sites do not talk about what the American government is doing in the Arab countries of killing and displacement in the Arab countries. And believes that the distortion of some sites and penetrate to raise the message of terrorist action. The American government is a scum of the earth.”
The Cryptosphere claims that Team System DZ is “an anti-Israeli group who previously pulled an identical stunt …when they participated in #OpSaveGaza.” The group has also struck Canadian and other websites, including one for the University of New Brunswick Student Union, reports Cryptosphere.
In 2014, the group struck about 200 websites throughout the world. “There is no discernable pattern to the websites targeted: everything from escort sites to Boatingdog.com,” Crystopsphere wrote in 2014. Zone H has published a list of Team System DZ hacks.
Fox News reports the group has previously struck websites in Richland County, Wisconsin and Aberdeen, Scotland, and it places anti-Israel, pro-Islamic messages on the pages it hacks.
However, the recent attacks appear targeted at U.S. governmental websites.
Here’s a round up of the pro ISIS hacks that have occurred throughout the United States:
Brookhaven, Long Island
Brookhaven website remains disabled after ISIS group hack t.co/6UHdeGH9DL
The website for Brookhaven, a community in Long Island, New York, was targeted by the hackers. Officials in the community don’t know why their town was picked out.
“We were randomly picked out,” Town Supervisor Edward P. Romaine told Newsday. “It’s prankish but more serious because they are enemies of Americans.”
U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-Shirley) have offered Brookhaven resources to figure out how its website security was breached, Newsday reported.
Ohio Governor John Kasich & the First Lady of Ohio
John Kasich says he does not plan to vote for Donald Trump in November. (Getty)
The websites of both Kasich and his wife were targeted in the hack.
The page played the Islamic call to prayer, according to Fox News.
An Ohio government spokeswoman told Cleveland.com, “We are aware of the situation and we are working aggressively to correct the situation. A thorough investigation will be conducted to determine how this occurred and how it can be prevented in the future.”
Various Ohio Government Websites
The hackers didn’t stop with Kasich and his wife. They also targeted a string of obscure Ohio governmental websites, according to WKYC.
WKYC reported that, in addition to the Kasichs, the following websites were subjected to the hack: The Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections, Casino Control, Office of Workforce Transformation, Office of Health Transformation, Inspector General, and Medicaid.
On Facebook, Ohio State Treasurer Josh Mandel wrote about the Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections website hack, saying, “Wake up freedom-loving Americans. Radical Islam infiltrating the heartland.”
Howard County, Maryland website
The website for Howard County, Maryland, and several Ohio government websites, were hacked Sunday:
The website for Howard County, Maryland was also taken over by the hackers.
Howard County wrote on Facebook: “Thank you to those of who noticed that the Howard County Government website may have been hacked. Our IT team was alerted to the problem, has identified the issue and expects to have it resolved shortly. We apologize for any inconvenience.”