Anonymous hacked ISIS website, replaced it with Viagra ad

In the ad which replaced the propaganda forum of the active ISIS website, GhotSec hackers said: “Too Much ISIS”. The further away from the “vanilla” Internet ISIS goes, the less people its message will reach.

Ghost Sec, an Anonymous affiliate, has hacked one of the Islamic State’s websites on the d arkweb, turning the website’s contents into a Viagra advertisement. The ad then directed curious Internet viewers to the pharmacy, which notably accepts Bitcoin for the drugs in question.

The full message read-“Enhance your calm. Please gaze upon this lovely ad so we can upgrade our infrastructure to give you ISIS content you all so desperately crave”, wrote the hackers on the ISIS website known as Isdarat. It was created on the dark web, to avoid detection and being shut down.

Website defacements are mostly a psychological weapon – it’s a way to remind your opponent that they’re not good enough to maintain control of their own websites – but in the case of sites recruiting and spreading ISIS propaganda, there’s likely real tactical value in taking these sites down beyond just damaging morale. While the ad for pharmaceuticals is certainly an odd and novel approach, members of the hacking collective have had a devastating effect on the terrorist group’s online presence.

Earlier this week, Home Office security minister John Hayes appeared to back Anonymous’ cyber war on ISIS when he said that he is “grateful for any of those who are engaged in the battle against this kind of wickedness”.

“Instead of sitting idle in the [chat] channel or lurking around and doing nothing, you can benefit greatly from the different tools and guides that have been provided to you”, he wrote.