Skype’s tweets hijacked to bash parent company Microsoft for spying

The Syrian Electronic Army rang in the New Year by posting bogus messages on the Internet call service’s Twitter account, purporting that Microsoft email services monitor user messages and sell the data to the government.

The National Security Agency reportedly does indeed intercept communications from Microsoft and other tech companies through bugs inadvertently left behind by product developers. Also, leaks from ex-NSA contractor Edward Snowden indicate the agency ordered Microsoft to help spies circumvent encryption on Skype web chats and Outlook.com.  

But it doesn’t seem that there’s been a new hack of Microsoft’s popular products. The hackers, who support Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, apparently only compromised Skype’s social media platforms.  

One fake tweet advised: “Don't use Microsoft emails(hotmail,outlook),They are monitoring your accounts and selling the data to the governments.More details soon #SEA”

A hacked Skype Facebook page offered a similar warning to Microsoft email users, proclaiming, “They are monitoring your accounts and selling it to governments."

“The attack appears to be the first time a company that is alleged to have been involved in the US National Security Agency’s surveillance programme has been targeted by the hackers,” the Financial Times reports.

NSA reportedly can see data about online conversations from other Internet behemoths too, including Verizon, AT&T, Google and Facebook.

All the firms deny allowing the government to access customer data in bulk and without a warrant. Microsoft has said it is improving encryption across its services.

“It is not known whether the hackers have obtained access to other parts of Skype’s computer systems, although the Syrian Electronic Army tends to favour hacking high-profile websites and social media accounts rather than companies’ core services,” the Financial Times added. 

ThreatWatch is a regularly updated catalog of data breaches successfully striking every sector of the globe, as reported by journalists, researchers and the victims themselves.