Fox News Politics Twitter Account Hacked, Disturbing Tweets Appear

Was the Fox News Politics Twitter account (@foxnewspolitics) hacked?

Unusual activity on the news division's account seemed to suggest as much late on Sunday night. Later, additional tweets appeared falsely claiming that President Barack Obama was killed.

The account's icon had been changed from the Fox News Politics logo and featured the following new description: "H4CK3D BY TH3 5CR1PT K1DD3S."

UPDATE: Fox News released a statement confirming the hacking and adding that "the hacking is being investigated, and FoxNews.com regrets any distress the false tweets may have created."

The vice president and general manager of Fox News Digital, Jeff Misenti, said that FoxNews.com is working with Twitter to address the situation as quickly as possible. In a statement he said, "We will be requesting a detailed investigation from Twitter about how this occurred, and measures to prevent future unauthorized access into FoxNews.com accounts."

As of midday Monday, the tweets that had gone out on the Fox News Politics Twitter account as a result of the hacking had been taken down.

Below, a screenshot capturing two tweets sent out by @foxnewspolitics on Sunday night:

UPDATE: Additional tweets have appeared falsely claiming that President Obama was killed. The unsettling tweets appear below.

Comments

[TFlint]

08:59 AM on 07/10/2011

Even Fox must be defended from these adolescent twerps who think it is cute to hack into computers. When communication is disrupted, society becomes chaos.

[Authentic US Patriot]

02:05 PM on 07/09/2011

http://oi53.tinypic.com/1h2fwi.jpg

[nypapajoe]

01:41 PM on 07/08/2011

FOX your sister company was exposed because of their underhanded tactics "Tabloid journalist" that you all are what does one expect! Let us hope that America finally wakes up and demands that you also get closed down! Right wing fanatics!

[AbstractImp]

05:27 AM on 07/07/2011

It's called -
Throw them off the scent.

[StillMadMatt]

12:34 PM on 07/07/2011

That is exactly what is happening. Smoke and mirrors time. Fanned and Faved:)

[emperorofohio]

08:58 PM on 07/06/2011

What goes around comes around

[Rodger leMonde]

07:54 PM on 07/06/2011

Yes the quiet approach is the wisest approach for a Murdock company when hacking is the subject. As ye sow so shall ye reap.

[RandellG]

10:18 PM on 07/05/2011

Wow.

[Wesley Holbrook]

09:46 PM on 07/05/2011

Some people believe that the freedom of speech entitles them to make public comments that are extremely inflammatory for the express purpose of inciting others to take matters into their own hands and bring harm to anyone, without consequences...

[aaron72]

10:42 PM on 07/05/2011

Like fox, glenn beck, sean hannity,and good ole' rush?

[conservo]

07:20 PM on 07/06/2011

No. UNLIKE Beck, Hannity, and Rush.

[sadwitness]

11:13 PM on 07/06/2011

hugged

[makemesmile]

07:29 PM on 07/05/2011

This truly speaks of the hatred and meanness of America's racists. The day of judgement should be a good day for all those who have suffered the evilness of racist people.

[dang47]

06:24 PM on 07/06/2011

like obama as well

[johuyik]

06:57 PM on 07/05/2011

Authorities said they became suspicious when they saw one tweet that read,

"It's time for the GOP to put the needs of their country ahead of their political ambitions!"

...one investigator says that the "rational tone of the tweets was the real tip-off".

[kit ecliptik]

05:16 PM on 07/05/2011

What does it matter, Didn't they win a case this year that basically allowing them to lie ?

[Tom Sutpen]

05:55 PM on 07/05/2011

No.

[intolleft]

07:04 PM on 07/05/2011

no

[Michael Williams 1]

12:29 PM on 07/06/2011

Actually, yes. Although you're right, it wasn't this year, it was last year.
http://ceasespin.org/ceasespin_blog/ceasespin_blogger_files/fox_news_gets_okay_to_misinform_public.html

[Michael Williams 1]

12:31 PM on 07/06/2011

And read this, too.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jane_Akre

[David Gamblin]

04:35 PM on 07/05/2011

It would be funny if it comes back, another division of News Corp hacked Fox News Twitter. Or did Fox News hack themselves???? If this did happen, it will not be the 1st time.

[deb0]

03:37 PM on 07/05/2011

Not surprising at all. After all, Conservatives have been trying to embrace the web ever since Bush discovered the Internets.

[growelly]

06:19 PM on 07/05/2011

I heard he's just learned to use "The Google."

[cyberob856]

07:00 PM on 07/05/2011

But didn't ALGORE invent the internet in his childhood? You don't remember that.

[Justdontgetit]

02:26 PM on 07/07/2011

No. He didn't.

http://www.snopes.com/quotes/internet.asp

[writeon1]

03:33 PM on 07/05/2011

I mean, does anyone even read the Fox News twitters?

[johuyik]

06:59 PM on 07/05/2011

Well, apparently not as the hacked tweets seemed to have started 6 weeks ago...;-)

[edenooch]

01:58 PM on 07/05/2011

they are taking this too far now. they should cause havoc for those companies. not mess with the president

[cyberob856]

06:52 PM on 07/05/2011

actually, in a rule of law society both are crimes, and both are equal.

[makemesmile]

07:30 PM on 07/05/2011

Those companies are controlled by white men who want this president out of the way permanently.