US Central Command's Twitter account hacked, reopened

Washington, Jan 13 (IANS/EFE) The Twitter account of the US Central Command (Centcom) responsible for operations in Iraq and Syria, is back in action after being allegedly hacked by the Islamic State (IS) jihadi group.

"We're back", were the first words of the Central Command late Monday after their accounts on Twitter and YouTube were suspended following the attack by a group of hackers going by the name CyberCaliphate.

However, the YouTube account where the Central Command posted videos of its offensive against the IS continues to be out of service.

In the 30 minutes that the accounts of CENTCOM on Twitter and YouTube accounts were compromised, hackers posted extremist messages and the personal data of Pentagon members.

The Central Command said the attack, which was seen as a case of cyber-vandalism and the leakage of privileged information, did not have any effect on military operations.

The hackers disrupted the entire Central Command's Twitter account and changed its profile picture to a person with his face covered with a 'kufiya', the traditional Arab scarf, and the IS flag.

Threats were issued to US soldiers. "American soldiers, we are coming, watch your backs," read one of the messages signed ISIS, the acronym of the IS.

"We know everything about you, your wives and children," they threatened in another message.

In addition, hackers published a list of addresses, phone numbers and names of generals, Central Command soldiers based in Florida, and retired military personnel with private information.

"ISIS is already here, we are in your PCs, in each military base. With Allah's permission we are in CENTCOM now," continued the message.

Before being suspended, the YouTube account showed Islamist videos, including "Flames of War", a Sunni extremist propaganda video in which they threatened the US and which showed pictures of executions.

--IANS/EFE

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