Verified Accounts on Twitter Hacked
Jul 16, 2020
In a massive security breach, hackers accessed Twitter’s internal systems to hijack some of the platform’s top handles including US presidential candidate Joe Biden, reality TV star Kim Kardashian, former US President Barack Obama, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, and billionaire Elon Musk. All the hijacked handles were used to solicit Bitcoin and many on the platform were amused by how the hackers had silenced some of the biggest voices with one move.
The hijacked accounts sent tweets asking for funds through Bitcoin and promising to double them if they were sent within 30 minutes. Twitter said it was aware of the security incident impacting its accounts and is investigating the issue.
We are aware of a security incident impacting accounts on Twitter. We are investigating and taking steps to fix it. We will update everyone shortly.
— Twitter Support (@TwitterSupport) July 15, 2020
“You may be unable to Tweet or reset your password while we review and address this incident,” Twitter wrote on its support account.
You may be unable to Tweet or reset your password while we review and address this incident.
— Twitter Support (@TwitterSupport) July 15, 2020
The hashtags #Hacked, #Bitcoin, ‘Blue checks’ and ‘Blue Tick’ were among the most dominant trends on the platform.
Many people commented on the security issues and others put out sarcastic jokes check out the reactions below:
The Blue Checks making their return to Twitter after the Normies thought they had the platform to themselves. #Hacked pic.twitter.com/ARqT1VIVkH
— Malcolm FleX???????? (@Malcolm_fleX48) July 15, 2020
Everyone after watching Billionaire's Twitter Account gettin #Hacked #Bitcoin pic.twitter.com/faFQglDiQ6
— Ashish Dodray (@ashishjr07) July 15, 2020
The hackers when people actually started sending them Bitcoin #Hacked #twitterhacked pic.twitter.com/3cAxpa1s6C
— Andrew (@Andrew_H__1) July 15, 2020
A short Description of Twitter’s security #Bitcoin pic.twitter.com/bMtx8zCreP
— Megamind (@freddyted1) July 15, 2020
Twitter executives realizing they dont know how to stop the bitcoin scam as it continues to hack high-profile accounts#hacked #twitterhacked pic.twitter.com/0XzvF6VeVq
— Mike Coudrey (@MichaelCoudrey) July 15, 2020
— Amanda Ach (@amandaach) July 15, 2020
Donald Trump not being able to tweet for four hours is the safest we have been as a nation in three years. #VERIFIED #bluecheck pic.twitter.com/H1IVlfcPmn
— Colleen McNamara ?? (@cmcubfan) July 16, 2020
#twitterhacked #Bitcoin #Hacked twitter at this moment ???????? pic.twitter.com/a8wSibcodu
— ??7 ?????????????????? (@cr7_ronaldooo7) July 15, 2020
time to shine #unverified #bluecheck pic.twitter.com/ke4P9ACswD
— al (@alisonelaineee) July 16, 2020
Unverified Twitter to Verified Twitter now pic.twitter.com/vrUARJGFSD
— Marzi "Anyone can wear the mask" (@MarziPandorica) July 15, 2020
VERIFIED TWITTER: This website will never survive without us.
— Mike Beauvais (@MikeBeauvais) July 15, 2020
REGULAR TWITTER: pic.twitter.com/7iIPzGEm0c
Chief Executive Jack Dorsey said the company was diagnosing the problem and pledged to share “everything we can when we have a more complete understanding of exactly what happened.”