Twitter tumbles on concerns about hacking activity

Science & Tech 15:25 18.12.2018

Twitter Inc shares fell almost 7 percent on Monday after the company said it was investigating unusual traffic that might be from state-sponsored hackers and, in what appeared to be an unrelated issue, a security firm said hackers used the platform to try to steal user data.

Twitter said in a blog that it discovered suspicious traffic to a customer-support forum while investigating a security bug that exposed data, including users’ phone country codes and details on locked accounts. It said the bug was fixed Nov. 16.

Twitter observed a large amount of traffic to the customer support site coming from individual internet IP addresses in China and Saudi Arabia.

“While we cannot confirm intent or attribution for certain, it is possible that some of these IP addresses may have ties to state-sponsored actors,” the blog said.

“We continue to err on the side of full transparency in this area and have updated law enforcement on our findings,” it said.

A company spokesman declined to elaborate as Twitter shares posted their biggest drop in more than two months.

The Chinese government consistently denies any involvement in hacking or other forms of internet attacks and says that it is dedicated to cracking down on such behavior.

Speaking in Beijing on Tuesday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said China’s position on internet security and attacks was consistent.

China hopes all sides can deal with this issue via talks and cooperation on the basis of mutual respect, she added.

Wedbush analyst Michael Pachter blamed the decline on concerns that news of a breach could hurt growth and user engagement.

“Clearly, a breach like this impairs user trust in the platform,” he said.

Separately, security software maker Trend Micro Inc said in a blog earlier on Monday that attackers sent out two tweets in October in a bid to steal data from previously infected machines.

The hackers hid instructions in tweeted memes that secretly ordered infected devices to send information, including user names, screen images and other content, Trend Micro said.

The Twitter spokesman declined to comment on the Trend Micro report.

Azerbaijan Air Force and Navy Forces held joint tactical exercise in Caspian Sea - VİDEO

News line

French police arrest attempted suicide bomber
French police arrest attempted suicide bomber
19:30 19.04.2024
'We are witnessing historical events' - Umud Mirzayev on the occasion of the return of Gazakh villages
19:09 19.04.2024
Expert: Israeli Response to Iran Expected to Be Limited, Considers Targeting Neighbor
18:45 19.04.2024
Border delimitation between Azerbaijan and Armenia to be based on Almaty Declaration
18:25 19.04.2024
Defamation against Azerbaijan in the International Court of Justice
18:12 19.04.2024
CIA: Ukraine will lose war without new aid this year
17:58 19.04.2024
Another baseless allegation from a law professor speaking on behalf of Armenia
17:40 19.04.2024
Azerbaijan and Armenia agree on returning of Gazakh's 4 villages
17:21 19.04.2024
President of Azerbaijan and Chancellor of Germany to meet in Berlin
17:00 19.04.2024
Russia won’t allow NATO to move closer in Ukraine — Lavrov
Russia won’t allow NATO to move closer in Ukraine — Lavrov
16:48 19.04.2024
Baku French Lyceum ceases its activity
16:35 19.04.2024
Ilham Aliyev and Vladimir Putin to meet in Moscow
16:27 19.04.2024
G7 Foreign Ministers call Azerbaijan and Armenia to be committed to peace process
16:16 19.04.2024
Mikayil Jabbarov: ‘Ughuryolu career program leads to identifying personnel with higher potential’
Mikayil Jabbarov: ‘Ughuryolu career program leads to identifying personnel with higher potential’
16:01 19.04.2024
US calls on Israel to provide humanitarian aid to Gaza
15:40 19.04.2024
Jeyhun Bayramov discusses situation in Gaza with Prime Minister of Palestine
15:30 19.04.2024
Public hearings on preliminary objections raised by Azerbaijan in International Court of Justice conclude
15:00 19.04.2024
Azerbaijan to create artificial land plots in Caspian Sea for construction
14:02 19.04.2024
Azerbaijan weather forecast for April 20
Azerbaijan weather forecast for April 20
13:21 19.04.2024
Fathers will have right to receive a pension under favorable conditions for their children in Azerbaijan
13:00 19.04.2024
Azerbaijan Air Force and Navy Forces held joint tactical exercise in Caspian Sea - VİDEO
Azerbaijan Air Force and Navy Forces held joint tactical exercise in Caspian Sea - VİDEO
12:40 19.04.2024
No plan for immediate retaliation against Israel, senior Iranian official says - VİDEO/UPDATED
12:25 19.04.2024
Oil prices surge following Israeli airstrike on Iran
12:12 19.04.2024
Final Day of Hearings in 'Armenia vs. Azerbaijan' Case at the Hague Court - LIVE
12:02 19.04.2024
Australia tells citizens to leave Israel
Australia tells citizens to leave Israel
11:50 19.04.2024
'Regrettably, the United States exhibits a biased position regarding peacekeepers' - MP Konul Nurullayeva
11:34 19.04.2024
The US does not want the Zangezur corridor to be opened under these conditions - OPINION
11:20 19.04.2024
Armenian general: Russia is the cause of all troubles
11:02 19.04.2024
Man arrested in Poland over suspected Russian plot to assassinate Zelensky
10:50 19.04.2024
Price of Azerbaijan oil drops
Price of Azerbaijan oil drops
10:35 19.04.2024
Azerbaijani police found numerous weapons and ammunition in Khankandi
10:23 19.04.2024
Chad threatens to kick out US troops
10:00 19.04.2024
Terrorists kill 16 soldiers in Syria
Terrorists kill 16 soldiers in Syria
09:49 19.04.2024
Biden calls China ‘xenophobic’
09:30 19.04.2024
Maduro: Despite US sanctions, Venesuela’s oil industry will develop
09:17 19.04.2024
Kenyan military helicopter crashes, five soldiers killed, police say
Kenyan military helicopter crashes, five soldiers killed, police say
23:45 18.04.2024
Greek PM Mitsotakis to meet Erdogan on May 13 in Ankara
22:55 18.04.2024
Guterres: ‘The Middle East is on a knife-edge’
Guterres: ‘The Middle East is on a knife-edge’
22:33 18.04.2024
CBA chairman discusses importance of COP29 in long-term development of global economy in Washington
22:00 18.04.2024
US Ambassador Marks Visit to Liberated Territories of Aghdam -PHOTOS
21:30 18.04.2024
Hamısı