On August 24, multiple top YouTubers saw their Twitter accounts hacked by the same group of people – but they didn’t stop at online entertainers, and have since taken control of Twitter’s own founder, Jack Dorsey.
Twitter users across the app sounded off on August 30, after the founder’s account retweeted a slew of highly offensive posts containing racial slurs, anti Semetic messages, and references to Nazi Germany.
However, many of the posts had something in common – the use of the hashtag “chuckling,” a phrase used by the same hackers (or hacker) who attacked the accounts of top YouTubers just a week earlier.
400https://twitter.com/MalwareJake/status/1167528275100557313?s=20400https://twitter.com/MalwareJake/status/1167528275100557313?s=20
In fact, these hackers warned netizens that they weren’t finished with their plans, writing, “We will be coming for everyone” using the account of makeup mogul James Charles.
While the offensive Tweets have since been deleted from Dorsey’s account, users are still shocked by the virtual attack, with Twitter reportedly stating to BBC that they are currently investigating the matter.
Twitter tells BBC it is urgently investigating what has happened to @jack‘s account, would not say why the account hasn’t been suspended or deactivated yet as still looking into it. Looks like tweets have stopped, many of the offending tweets seem to be disappearing now.
— Dave Lee (@DaveLeeBBC) August 30, 2019
Twitter themselves published a statement on the hack, writing, “We’re aware that Jack was compromised and investigating what happened.”
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We’re aware that @jack was compromised and investigating what happened.
— Twitter Comms (@TwitterComms) August 30, 2019
Despite this message, many users are ill at ease with the platform, with some worried about the safety of their own accounts in wake of the hack.
“Again, if someone can hack Jack Dorsey’s Twitter account, what can they do to yours?” user Will Meade wrote of the debacle. “Hopefully Jack and Twitter will improve safety measures this weekend.”
Again if someone can hack Jack Dorseys twitter account what can they do to yours. Hopefully @jack and @Twitter will improve safety measures this weekend.#JackHack
— Will Meade (@realwillmeade) August 30, 2019
Jack is just the latest massive presence on Twitter to fall victim to the hackers, with top YouTubers Shane Dawson, James Charles, King Bach, and even deceased social media star Desmond “Etika” Amofah’s accounts compromised last week.
Although no direct cause of the hack has been confirmed, some users are pointing the finger at mobile provider AT&T, with King Bach claiming that a SIM card switch could be to blame.
Dear @ATT … pic.twitter.com/7PdnqaU9ep
— King Bach (@KingBach) August 24, 2019
With the hackers posting largely the same messages, hashtags, and Discord links, their concentrated efforts are making major waves in the social media space – and there’s no telling when they’ll finally get caught.