Inside BlackBerry, the official BlackBerry Blog, has been targeted by hackers in what appears to be retaliation for RIM revealing it will "assist the authorities" in tracking down rioters that have spread violence across the UK over the past three days.
RIM blog hacked in retaliation
A blog has been posted on website that reads: "This hack is a response to this statement by RIM". The post then continued with RIM's official response to the use of BlackBerry Messenger (BBM).
"You Will _NOT_ assist the UK Police because if u do innocent members of the public who were at the wrong place at the wrong time and owned a blackberry will get charged for no reason at all," the post added.
"The Police are looking to arrest as many people as possible to save themselves from embarrassment."
Riots began in Tottenham on Saturday night following a peaceful protest regarding the Police shooting of Mark Duggan. Since then areas of London and now around the country have been subject to "copycat criminal activity" over the past two days according to the Metropolitan Police.
It is thought many of those involved in the riots that have happened across the UK over the past three days used BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) to organise the uprisings. BBM allows users to send a message to large numbers of contacts that are connected via BBM PINs. Messages sent using BBM are free, instant and in several cases are untraceable by the authorities. It is rumoured that BBM has been used in place of micro-blogging service Twitter and social network Facebook as these are more easily traced.
"As in all markets around the world where BlackBerry is available, we co-operate with local telecommunications operators, law enforcement and regulatory officials," Patrick Spence, managing director of global sales and regional marketing at BlackBerry UK, said.
"Similar to other technology providers in the UK we comply with The Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act and co-operate fully with the Home Office and UK police forces.
The hackers then went on to threaten RIM in the post to the Inside BlackBerry blog claiming they has access the firm's database of employees information including names and addresses, which it will make public and pass onto rioters.
"If you make the wrong choice your database will be made public, save yourself the embarrassment and make the right choice. Don't be a puppet," the post continued.
The post from the hackers also links to the TeaMp0isoN_ Twitter feed which posted a number of links to the blog and even a message stating "Blackberry Hacked: No Blackberry you will NOT assist the police #TeaMp0isoN".
It also appears BlackBerry attempted to delete the post, as the hackers later said on the same Twitter feed "@UK_BlackBerry tip: deleting posts wont get u far, try find out how we got in and patch ur sh!t, kthxbye".
BlackBerry has yet to respond to a request for comment on the matter.
However, Graham Cluley from security firm Sophos advised the hackers to be wary.
"Although there may be question marks as to whether the British police have enough resources to control the rioters on London's streets, the people who have hacked the BlackBerry blog might be wise to reminder themselves that the Metropolitan Police has just quadrupled the size of its cybercrime-fighting division," he said in a blog.
Comments
Mark said: Many so called rioters were "underage" but if they are old enough to do the crime they are old enough to do the time. All people proven to have taken part in any damage or looting should be forced to make financial restitution to those they stole from. If the law doesn't permit this action for "underage" criminals involved then their parents should be forced to pay compensation.For years the teenage criminal element in society have got away with murder because they cannot be prosecuted in court because of their age.This state exists because the law expects [as it should] that children under a certain age are the responsibility of their parents to control. It is time the parents of these mini thugs are made morally and financially accountable for their childrens actions.Like parents can now be fined and/or imprisoned for not ensuring their children attend school until the age of 16, they should be liable for their underage childrens criminal behaviour.Maybe then, when mum and dad say little Jimmy came home with 4 pairs of £300 trainers on Monday night but they didn't even know he wasn't in his room doing his homework, as an excuse to dodge their parental responsibilities. They will be forced to get their wallets out!If the little thugs and parents say they have no money to make restitution then as the child support agency and the medicaid system in the USA works, they should have the money deducted straight from their salaries etc.Just like the majority of hard working taxpayers are pissed of with having to bail out greedy bankers when they slip up, we don't want to be paying [through our taxes] for the results of thuggery and looting by idiot children and their excuses for parents.Lets hope for an "AGE OF ACCOUNTABILITY", as opposed to just giving a slap on the wrist to the underage moronic kids [and in many cases they're equally moronic excuses for parents]. Those and only those people responsible for the havoc and distress they have perpetrated on a society that is already fed up with for forking out for the mistakes of others MUST PAY for the cleanup ALONE.
Underdog54 said: Don't make just the thugs pay for the damage and clean up their mess, just like 'the sins of the father' make the parents go to court and share in the punishment and humiliation , it is after all, the parents fault their children were out un-supervised and untrained how to act in a decent society....
Wts said: That makes no sense, why are hackers protecting the kinds of morons that beat them up in high school?The BBM network should just be temp. blocked as well as twitter and FB.
GALLEYSLAVE said: Cancel the guilty parties service! SIMPLES!!!!
Ava said: They were so angry with the rich and powerful so they terrorized small business owners and taxpayers. Guess who's paying for the damages?
baggsie said: At present the police should be allowed to monitor and if necessary close down any of the social networks in order to prevent these civildisturbances from spreading
Apprentice95 said: Don't try to protect the thugs...everyone should be helping them to be locked up for a long time