Hackers Attack NASA's Website to Protest NSA

Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff demands answers from the U.S. government after a report about National Security Agency spying on Brazil during a ceremony in Brasilia, Monday, Sept. 9, 2013.

Several sub-domains on the website of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration are offline following an attack by hackers opposed to National Security Agency surveillance programs.

"Stop spy on us," said a message posted Monday to the pages of several NASA programs. "The Brazilian population do not support your attitude!"

The hack was first reported Tuesday by Internet news website Hack Read. According to that report, 14 sub-domains were initially affected.

"[A] Brazilian hacker group posted a political message on a NASA website," agency spokeswoman Beth Dickey told U.S. News. "NASA discovered the message within hours of its initial post and immediately started an investigation. The investigation is ongoing."

[BROWSE: Editorial Cartoons About the NSA]

Earlier in September Guardian reporter Glenn Greenwald disclosed that, according to leaked NSA documents, the communications of Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff and state oil company Petrobras are monitored by the U.S. spy agency, infuriating many Brazilians.

Although the primary complaint motivating the hack appeared to be NSA surveillance, smaller text on the hacked web pages expressed opposition to potential U.S. air strikes against Syria's government.

"The Illuminati are now visibly acting!" the smaller message written with stylistic haste said. "Obama heartless! Inhumane! you have no family? the point in the entire global population is supporting you. NOBODY! We do not want war, we want peace!!! Do not attack the Syrians!"

The space news blog NASA Watch reported Wednesday the initial language was replaced by an offline message that said "Down For Maintenance."

See the original post:
Hackers Attack NASA's Website to Protest NSA