IS hackers target wrong Google, take down small Indian firm

They had actually defaced www.addgoogleonline.com, instead of the search engine giant.

March 03, 2016 07:03 pm | Updated October 26, 2016 01:11 pm IST - LONDON:

Cyber Caliphate Army, a hacking group affiliated to the IS, hit   www.addgoogleonline.com — registered by Gandani K. for Indian tech firm Always Say, which offers search engine optimisation services to local clients and which is completely unrelated to the Silicon Valley-based Google.

Cyber Caliphate Army, a hacking group affiliated to the IS, hit www.addgoogleonline.com — registered by Gandani K. for Indian tech firm Always Say, which offers search engine optimisation services to local clients and which is completely unrelated to the Silicon Valley-based Google.

Hackers affiliated to the Islamic State (IS) terror group, who promised to take down International search engine giant Google, has instead targeted a small Indian tech firm, according to a media report.

Cyber Caliphate Army (CCA), a hacking group affiliated to the IS, hit www.addgoogleonline.com — registered by Gandani K. for Indian tech firm Always Say, which offers search engine optimisation (SEO) services to local clients.

According to vocative.com website, CCA had vowed on messaging app Telegram they would attack Google on Monday. “We promised to hack Google. Keep the promise inshallah [God willing], expect us today,” the group declared.

Tall claims, short on delivery

However, the website claims that a few hours later they had instead defaced the website www.addgoogleonline.com — which is completely unrelated to the Silicon Valley-based Google.

After it was hacked, the website played an IS song in French and displaced the official logo along with a sign saying “Hacked By: CCA.”

Group had to bite the dust

The CCA’s “defacement of the website” was short-lived as yet another hacker group called “n3far1ous” wiped out the IS message and replaced it with an “Eat this, ISIS” message, and a rock tune playing in the background.

The “n3far1ous“ message was still on display on Thursday.

35 British websites hacked

The CCA allegedly hacked into 35 British websites, which appear to be a random mix of relatively small British businesses, media reports said.

The websites hacked into include a Japanese dance instructor’s website, a company selling furniture and laminate flooring and a salon.

Message to Cameron

IS hackers allegedly said that the attacks were “A message to David Cameron” as revenge for the killing of British Muslim terrorist Junaid Hussain, who died during a U.S.-led air strike last year.

The attacks follow pro-IS hackers’ threats that they would target the founder of Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg, and Twitter’s Jack Dorsey for shutting down their social media accounts.

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