● Covered by 3 sources · 3 reportsMedium impact3 neutral
Syrian Electronic Army Hacker Sentenced to 42 Months for Cyberattacks, Including AP Twitter Hijack
Key points
- Ahmad Umar Agha, "Th3Pr0," sentenced to 42 months in prison.
- Part of Syrian Electronic Army (SEA) hacking conspiracy.
- Conspiracy organized by Bashar al-Assad's inner circle.
- Hijacked Associated Press Twitter account in 2013.
- False tweet caused $136 billion Dow Jones drop.
- Agha was sentenced on Thursday by a federal court in the Eastern District of Virginia.
- The hacking scheme began in August 2011 and continued until January 2024.
- Agha compromised around 47 targets, including news outlets, companies, NGOs, and government bodies.
Hacker Sentenced for Cyber Conspiracy
Ahmad Umar Agha, identified online as "Th3Pr0" and a member of the Syrian Electronic Army (SEA), has been sentenced to 42 months in a U.S. federal court. The sentence was for his role in a hacking conspiracy that targeted Western news organizations and other entities.
Origins of the Syrian Electronic Army
The conspiracy was organized and led by members of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's inner circle, including the commander of Syria's General Intelligence Directorate, according to the U.S. Justice Department. The pro-Assad Syrian Electronic Army began its operations in 2011, engaging in computer intrusions to support the Assad government.
Notable Attacks and Market Impact
One significant incident occurred on April 23, 2013, when the SEA hijacked the Associated Press's Twitter account. They posted a false report claiming President Barack Obama had been injured in explosions at the White House. This hoax led to a temporary $136 billion drop in the value of stocks in the Dow Jones Industrial Average.
A 2014 FBI affidavit indicated that a Twitter message confirming a password reset for the Associated Press account was sent to a Gmail address primarily used by Agha. The Justice Department stated that Agha carried out this specific hack. The SEA also redirected the Marine Corps' recruiting website in another attack.
Hacking Methods
The SEA's methods included sending phishing emails to steal employee passwords. These stolen credentials were then used to deface websites, redirect web traffic, and hijack social media accounts.
Updates
- Agha was sentenced on Thursday by a federal court in the Eastern District of Virginia.
- The hacking scheme began in August 2011 and continued until January 2024.
- Agha compromised around 47 targets, including news outlets, companies, NGOs, and government bodies.
✨ This summary was generated by AI from the outlets' reporting listed below. It is not independently verified and may contain errors — check the original sources. How BrevFeed works →
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How outlets covered it
Ahmad Umar Agha, a Syrian man linked to the Syrian Electronic Army (SEA), received a 42-month prison sentence in the US for his role in a hacking conspiracy. Agha, who operated under the alias Th3Pr0, was involved in compromising approximately 47 targets, including Western news outlets, companies, NGOs, and government entities. This sentencing concludes a more than 12-year pursuit by US authorities.
Ahmad Umar Agha, a hacker with the Syrian Electronic Army (SEA), received a 42-month prison sentence for cyber campaigns against nearly 50 Western targets. These attacks, organized by advisors to former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, included hijacking the Associated Press's Twitter account and redirecting the Marine Corps' recruiting website.
Ahmad Umar Agha, a Syrian Electronic Army hacker, received a 42-month prison sentence in the U.S. for his role in a hacking conspiracy that included hijacking the Associated Press Twitter account. This specific hack caused a temporary $136 billion drop in the Dow Jones Industrial Average with a false report about an attack on the White House.