Twitter becomes the third social network to warn its users about state-sponsored attacks, after Google and Facebook.
Yesterday, some users tweeted the message they received from the social network's security staff, in which they had been warned of cyberattacks against account , implying that a state-sponsored group was responsible.
The news was not surprising given that various nations have attempted to hack Twitter accounts of opponents or political dissidents, but it was shocking because the social media platform in question had never sent these kinds of messages before.
Until now, only Google, and more recently Facebook, were the only two companies to warn their users about potential attacks .
Twitter said it was investigating the attack, but did not provide details about its origin. “If we knew our cybersecurity landscape, we would point the finger at China, Russia, and the US, but there are also smaller nations that engage in this type of tactic, typically those with repressive governments, such as some in the Middle East, Africa, and South American regimes.”
Most of the people targeted in the attack are well-known activists and security researchers, and most live in Western countries.
In his message, he recommends that users stay safe by using Tor for most of their online activities, but also advises against the Electronic Frontier Foundation's guidelines: "Protect yourself on social networks."
