Unknown hackers are targeting Algerian President Abdel Aziz Bouteflika's website, according to a report which said that other national sites had also been targeted by “Moroccan pirates."
El Khabar daily said that the president had to close down an email account he had recently opened to receive letters from the public, after hundreds of messages were intercepted and prevented from arriving by unknown persons.
The letters carried complaints and “highly confidential reports” from people who preferred to directly contact the head of the state via email.
The paper also reported that two months ago, Moroccan hackers were able to sabotage national sites, including that of the official radio station, and sent threatening messages to army leaders.
The following message appeared on the official sites: “We regret to tell you that this site has been hacked by the Moroccan side…stop the criminal policies of the generals against our brethren Algerians...stop the bloodbath.”
The letter ended with the slogan “the Western Sahara is a Moroccan territory today, tomorrow and forever.”
Morocco and Algeria are duelling over the latter’s support for the Polisario Front, a resistance group struggling for self-determination for the Western Sahara people and independence from Morocco.
In another case of online piracy, an Algerian court is considering a joint suit by Al Watan newspaper and a catering company against a private company accused of hacking their websites and changing content there, according to El Khabar.
Algerian officials and IT experts warn that if the state does not install proper security software, state secrets may find their way into the wrong hands – Albawaba.com
© 2001 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
