Al Jazeera media platforms under cyberattack

Website and digital platforms of entire Doha-based network undergoing ‘systematic and continual hacking attempts’

The websites and digital platforms of Al Jazeera Media Network are undergoing systematic and continual hacking attempts.

These attempts are gaining intensity and taking various forms. However, the platforms have not been compromised.

Last month, Qatar’s official news agency was hacked and false statements attributed to the country’s ruler were posted that helped spark a rift with other Arab Gulf states.

Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and several other countries cut their ties with Doha on Monday in part because of the comments briefly posted on the Qatar News Agency.

The fake report said Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, in a speech at a military graduation ceremony, was critical of renewed tensions with Iran, expressed the need for contextualising Hezbollah and Hamas as resistance movements, and suggested US President Donald Trump might not last long in power.

A Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) team has been in Doha for the past week after the Qatari government asked the US for help following the security breach by hackers.

Qatar’s Ministry of Interior said it will release the full findings once the investigation is complete, but did not say when that would be.

Source: Al Jazeera News