Pro-Assad Hackers Hit Marines Website

Computer hackers break into the Marine Corps recruiting website, call Obama "a traitor who wants to put your lives in danger."

Computer hackers who support Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad broke on Monday into the Marine Corps recruiting website, reported the Associated Press.

The hackers redirected visitors to a screen that called U.S. President Barack Obama "a traitor who wants to put your lives in danger to rescue Al-Qaeda insurgents."

A Marine Corps spokesman confirmed that the site, marines.com, was tampered with and redirected temporarily, but no information was put at risk.

Capt. Eric Flanagan would not say who was responsible for the hacking, but the site was redirected to a message from the Syrian Electronic Army, a hacker group that has claimed responsibility for previous break-ins into other websites.

The message to the Marine Corps was a plea for Americans to fight alongside the Syrian army and not aide the rebels.

The Syrian Electronic Army is believed to be behind an attack last week on the website of the New York Times. The group also claimed credit for hacking into Twitter's registry account and changing information there.

Last April, the group took control of the Associated Press' official Twitter feed, and sent out a false message about two explosions at the White House and injury to the president.

Several weeks later, the group hacked the Twitter feed of satirical U.S. news website The Onion, posting comments and photos in line with similar intrusions at other news organizations.

The full message which the group posted on the Marines site, as quoted by AP, is:

“This is a message written by your brothers in the Syrian Army, who have been fighting Al-Qaeda for the last 3 years. We understand your patriotism and love for your country so please understand our love for ours. Obama is a traitor who wants to put your lives in danger to rescue Al-Qaeda insurgents.

Marines, please take a look at what your comrades think about Obama's alliance with Al-Qaeda against Syria. Your officer in charge probably has no qualms about sending you to die against soldiers just like you, fighting a vile common enemy. The Syrian army should be your ally not your enemy.

Refuse your orders and concentrate on the real reason every soldier joins their military, to defend their homeland. You're more than welcome to fight alongside our army rather than against it.

Your brothers, the Syrian army soldiers. A message delivered by the SEA.”