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Hackers attack NewsLINC, German IPs banned

By Rachel Keller

On April 28, 2011

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Germany is banned from LSC. Well, its IP addresses are, anyway.

Early last week, electronic journalism arts (EJA) professor Meaghan Meachem received a tip from a student looking through NewsLINC archives that something a little fishy might be going on. Once Meachem looked into it, it was clear that the site had been hacked.

Once the problem was brought to her attention, the site was immediately closed down so they could figure out what the issue was. A result was a handful of blocked IP address, and some IP addresses from entire countries, like Germany, were blocked.

"Over 600,000 sites got infected," Meachem said. "We weren't targeted because of who or what we are, but just because we had an unfortunate ‘.net' ending."

Hackers had implanted data into NewsLINC stories (all over a year old) in which it clearly didn't belong. This data included links to websites that Meachem did not disclose.

"They were links to a variety of different things," she says. The problem is under control now, though not completely rid of; what used to be 30 or more links implanted in sites per day is now maybe one per day, says Meachem.

EJA senior Tim Cappalli was a big player in getting the problems fixed, and his work does not go unrecognized.

"I am more than appreciative of Tim's work," Meachem says. "Without him, it wouldn't have been so quick to fix."

Students who write for NewsLINC are part of two practicum courses and are predominantly juniors and seniors who also work in News 7. The students worked on stories that weren't time sensitive so when the site was back up, they had something to put online. They also still reported things like the weather on their Facebook page.

"It can happen to everybody," says Meachem, "it's important to not stop the work flow, and it was a learning moment for the group, to take it day by day."