14 DAY TRIAL // A group of individuals calling themselves the “Arab Security Team” are on a spree to deface all types of websites, with no other apparent reason than to prove their skills.
Hacktivists pick targets that are visible to those whose attention they want to draw regarding their agenda, but some hackers do it only for themselves to be noticed.
Bus timetable website hit by “Muslim hackers”
The Arab Security Team seems to fall in the latter category as they keep on defacing all sorts of websites, regardless of their profile and activity field.
One of their recent actions was carried out on January 1 and resolved to attacking the site for the bus and train timetable in Bristol (TravelWest). The result was a black background with the name of the particular group member claiming responsibility.
They also left the address of their Facebook profile and the contact email address of the one responsible for the incident.
The service does not seem to be restored at the moment, probably on account that maintenance and security upgrade tasks are being deployed. Some of the visitors landing on the defaced page have turned to the Facebook page of the hackers to learn about transportation time of arrival.
Multiple websites in the UK are impacted by the group's activity
TravelWest is not the only website affected, and it looks like the hackers do not really care about the profile of the website, as long as they can replace the original content.
They’ve been doing the same with online locations selling filters for air-conditioning machines or selling shoes for newborns. Furthermore, they also attacked sites that sold aerobics clothing and even one for a service that offers security services.
From their latest post on Facebook disclosing the locations they attacked, most of the websites are for UK-based businesses. Also, the most recent deeds also include an audio track.
The defacement text is always the same, with the single difference consisting in the name of the perpetrator and their email address.
By the looks of it, the hackers are from Tunis and the Ivory Coast, and seem to have an aching tooth against the United Kingdom.
Many of the websites they touched have not been fixed at the moment and continue to load the hackers’ message.
Even if their actions are not justifiable, the administrators of the websites that have been attacked could use this opportunity to strengthen security and ensure better protection not just against the Arab Security Team, but also against others that may want to test their skills.