Security threats Toolkit

Petrol Crisis: OPEC Web site defaced

Will Knight ZDNet.co.uk

Published: 13 Sep 2000 09:01 BST

The international price of petrol has resulted in British protests that have left three quarters of the UK's petrol stations dry.

The cracker struck out late Tuesday, forcing OPEC to remove the site Wednesday morning.

The cracker responsible for the attack -- Fluxnyne -- defaced the site in order to draw attention to the worsening situation. "I think I speak for everyone out there [the entire planet], when I say you guys need to get your collective asses in gear with the price of crude."

The individual also criticises international fuel prices for worsening poverty and debt in third and fourth world nations.

"We really need to focus on the poverty-stricken countries, who don't even have enough money for aspirin, let alone exorbitant prices for heating oil. I think the lives of children are paramount to your profits."

According to the Farouk Muhammed, head of public relations for OPEC, a technical team is working to fix the site and trace the location. "The are still trying to tighten up security," he says. "but it is never fool proof, this sort of thing can happen to anyone."

Muhammed adds that OPEC will not alter its oil prices in response to this sort of cyber tactic. "This will not affect the oil industry," he says.