Tech Brew Ride Home Thu. 07/16 – The Great Twitter Hijack of 2020
Jul 16, 2020
A major Twitter security incident unfolds as high-profile accounts are hijacked for a cryptocurrency scam, revealing the internal tactics used by hackers. Facebook responds with new labels for political posts and positions itself against TikTok with a global launch of its competitor. Amazon launches a live shopping platform for influencers, changing the game for e-commerce. Meanwhile, Apple steps into the podcasting arena, introducing a daily audio briefing that adds a new dimension to its services.
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The Great Twitter Hijack
- Prominent Twitter accounts like Barack Obama, Joe Biden, Elon Musk, and Bill Gates were hijacked.
- They tweeted a cryptocurrency scam, causing chaos and locking verified users out of tweeting.
How the Hack Happened
- Hackers accessed an internal Twitter tool through social engineering, possibly by targeting employees.
- This allowed them to control high-profile accounts and change associated email addresses, making recovery difficult.
Insider Involvement?
- Motherboard and sources claim a Twitter insider was responsible for the hack, potentially bribed.
- Security professionals question the motive of a simple Bitcoin scam, suggesting possible ulterior motives like accessing DMs or undermining trust.