View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

Independent and Telegraph websites ‘hacked’ by Syrian Electronic Army

By Press Gazette

The Independent, Evening Standard and Telegraph websites were reportedly hacked by the Syrian Electronic Army today.

The Independent, which had both its main website and the i100 targeted, said sites using the Gigya comment platform were affected.

It said that the Gigya platform itself was not hacked and reported experts as saying “no user data is or was in jeopardy”. The Independent said the hackers entered the Gigya system at GoDaddy, the domain registrar that manages domain names.

Some users when clicking on the websites would have been met with a message saying: “You’ve been hacked by the Syrian Electronic Army”.

Other titles affected included the Chicago Tribune, CNBC, Forbes, Time Out, National Geographic, NBC and OK Magazine, according to the i100.

A tweet from the Telegraph after the hacking said: "A part of our website run by a third-party was compromised earlier today. We've removed the component. No Telegraph user data was affected."

The Syrian Electronic Army is believed to have previously hacked Twitter accounts of The Guardian, BBC and other media organisations.

Content from our partners
How PA Media is helping newspapers make the digital transition
Publishing on the open web is broken, how generative AI could help fix it
Impress: Regulation, arbitration and complaints resolution

Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog

Select and enter your email address Weekly insight into the big strategic issues affecting the future of the news industry. Essential reading for media leaders every Thursday. Your morning brew of news about the world of news from Press Gazette and elsewhere in the media. Sent at around 10am UK time. Our weekly does of strategic insight about the future of news media aimed at US readers. A fortnightly update from the front-line of news and advertising. Aimed at marketers and those involved in the advertising industry.
  • Business owner/co-owner
  • CEO
  • COO
  • CFO
  • CTO
  • Chairperson
  • Non-Exec Director
  • Other C-Suite
  • Managing Director
  • President/Partner
  • Senior Executive/SVP or Corporate VP or equivalent
  • Director or equivalent
  • Group or Senior Manager
  • Head of Department/Function
  • Manager
  • Non-manager
  • Retired
  • Other
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how New Statesman Media Group may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
Thank you

Thanks for subscribing.

Websites in our network