Jul 30 2023
Hey there, cyber squad! ????????️ Who said cybersecurity had to be all serious business? Here at Gone Phishing, we’re a bit like a mullet haircut: business in the front, party in the back ????
Cuttingedge cybersecurity news and keeping you, our loyal readers, safe is our day job but everyone now and then we like to let loose and let our hair down with some knee-slappers ????♀️???????? So, take a load off and strap in. It’s gonna be a bumpy ride!
So, our treat for you today is a hilarious countdown of the 15 funniest cyberattacks that will leave you ROFLing. ???????? Seriously, some of these are nuts…
15. The "Google Pac-Man" Epidemic (2010)
Not strictly a cyberattack but certainly an attack on productivity in the workplace lol. This made headlines when it hit our screens way back in 2010.
Basically, Google decided to pay tribute to the iconic Pac-Man game by adding a playable version on its homepage. Little did they know that this innocent addition would turn workplaces worldwide into gaming arcades!
Employees couldn't resist the temptation and productivity plummeted. It was a classic case of "Eat the dots and avoid the ghosts" turning into "Watch out for the boss and avoid getting caught!" ????
14. The Iranian Nuclear Facility's Infestation (2010)
Remember the Stuxnet worm that targeted Iran's Natanz nuclear facility? Well, it did more than just sabotage centrifuges. It turned the facility into an icy winter wonderland during the blazing Iranian summer!
Workers were left puzzled as they wondered why their nuclear facility suddenly had a case of the chills. Who knew cyberattacks could come with temperature controls? ????️❄️
???? FYI, Stuxnet is a malicious computer worm first uncovered in 2010 and thought to have been in development since at least 2005.
Stuxnet targets supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems and is believed to be responsible for causing substantial damage to the nuclear program of Iran. ????????️
You can Iran but you can’t hide!
Although neither country has openly admitted responsibility, the worm is widely understood to be a cyberweapon built jointly by the United States and Israel in a collaborative effort known as Operation Olympic Games. ????????
The program, started during the Bush administration, was rapidly expanded within the first months of Barack Obama's presidency. ????????️
13. The "Hodor" DDoS Attack (2016)
In 2016, HBO GO suffered a DDoS attack, but the attackers added a quirky twist. They sent an epic message, "HODOR," paying homage to the lovable character from "Game of Thrones."
While it disrupted the streaming service, it also gave fans a shared moment of laughter in the realm of cyber chaos. Hodor, the ultimate protector of the door, even in the digital world! ????????
Honestly, this entire list could be compromised with nothing but quirky DDoS attacks. They are a dime a dozen! So much so that as soon as they’ve hit they quickly fade from memory until the next one steals the cyber-show.
We’ve limiting them in this list to keep things varied ????
12. The Tech Support Scam Turns on Itself (2017)
Tech support scammers got a taste of their own medicine in 2017! Ethical hackers unleashed "RevengeHotels," a malware strain that flooded the scammers' call centres with automated calls.
The scammers found themselves on the receiving end of endless phone calls, rendering them unable to scam innocent victims. Justice served with a side of irony! ⚖️????
Now, that’s a hack we can get behind! This reminds us of the YouTube videos of the good actor hackers who play the old Reverse Uno card and let the Indian scammers see themselves on remote access via their ‘victim’s’ screen. They get quiet real fast after that ???????????? See below:
What the video here YouTube link
11. The Fart Attack (2011)
This is a silly one ha ha. Brace yourselves for a gas-tastic cyber prank! In 2011, an Argentinean hacker unleashed a flood of automatic "fart" comments on an unsuspecting online forum. A stinky attack, indeed, but no harm done – just lots of giggles! ????????
10. The Barbie Botnet (2015)
This one’s rather on trend considering the new Barbie movie, starring a flaxen-haired Ryan Gosling alongside a rather adorable Margot Robbie.
And after all, who said dolls can't be hackers? Introducing Hacker Barbie! In 2015, "slv" showed the world that even Barbie dolls could form a botnet! No need to worry, though; it was all in the name of highlighting IoT vulnerabilities.
Barbie dolls fighting cybercrime – talk about unconventional heroes! ???????? We’re all for it!
Gotta love their Ken-do attitude. I’ll show myself out…
9. The Hacked Digital Road Sign (Various)
Road signs went digital, and hackers found a new playground! Pranksters around the world took control of digital road signs, delivering humorous messages to unsuspecting drivers. "Zombies Ahead" or "Chuck Norris Speed Limit: Infinity" – who said traffic couldn't be funny? ????????
To be fair, in a post-covid world these are barely parody anymore, honestly. REMAIN INDOORS!
8. The Monty Python Spam Attack (2004)
What have the hackers ever done for us, eh? Spammers met their match in 2004!
System administrators responded to spam emails with quotes from Monty Python's "Spam" sketch, flooding spammers' inboxes with endless repetitions of the word "spam." A brilliant dose of humour to combat annoying emails! ????????
We, are the knights who say ‘SPAM’ ????
7. The Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster (2005)
In 2005 (again in true Monty Python fashion!) a hacker took a satirical stance on the Intelligent Design debate. They defaced a website, replacing content with a letter from the "Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster." Noodles as a divine symbol – now that's some divine humour! ????????
The Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster began in 2005 with a satiric open letter written by then-25-year-old Bobby Henderson in response to the Kansas Board of Education's decision to teach the theory of intelligent design alongside evolution in public schools.
Controversial!
6. Operation Tetris (2014)
Hackers challenged cybersecurity in a playful way in 2014. Through "Operation Tetris," they installed a Tetris game on vulnerable websites.
It wasn't about destruction; it was about high-score competition! A cyber battle for Tetris supremacy – block by block! ????️????
We know what the vulnerable websites in question were thinking: BLOCKED! ????
5. The Targeted Ads Takedown (2021)
In 2021, hackers turned the tables on advertisers by replacing online ads with hilarious and quirky content.
Suddenly, users were bombarded with absurd ads, leaving them wondering if the internet had entered a new dimension of advertising! ????????
And thus, malvertising was born ????????????
4. The DDoS Party (2018)
DDoS attacks are usually pretty serious and damaging affairs, but in 2018, a group of hackers threw a party!
They crashed a political website and replaced its content with a playful "DDoS Party" invitation.
Cyber mayhem with a festive twist – party hats optional! ????????This has been mimicked in different ways numerous times since.
3. The Love Bug Virus (2000)
The "Love Bug" virus was more of a mischievous romantic than a real threat. It spread like wildfire through emails, expressing love in its subject line. Who knew a cyber attack could bring people together through a digital love letter? ????????
These were simpler times, during the meth-like highs of a Dotcom boom in full swing, having shrugged off y2k panic like Neo shrugged off machine gun fire, post-millennial but pre-9/11. Ah, good times indeed.
Ring any bells? Then you’ve officially entered middle age (at least ????????).
2. Rickrolling the FBI (2008)
FBI, meet Rick Astley! In 2008, an anonymous hacker infiltrated an FBI press release page and replaced the content with the lyrics to "Never Gonna Give You Up." The FBI got "Rickrolled," proving even the authorities can have a sense of humour! ????????
1. The Goatse Security AT&T iPad Hack (2010)
Finally, we’ve arrived at the GOAT of funny internet hacks ???? Geddit? Goatse. Yep, sometimes hackers' names say it all!
In 2010, Goatse Security exposed an AT&T security flaw, but it was their humorous name that caught everyone's attention. Referencing an infamous internet shock site, they combined shock and amusement in one cyber package! ????????️????
In conclusion, cybersecurity might be serious business, but these funny cyberattacks remind us that laughter can lighten the digital darkness. Stay vigilant, stay secure, and keep smiling! ????????
Thanks for joining us on this hilarious cyber adventure! Until next time, stay safe and tech on, Wayne! Tech on, Garth! ???????????????? ????????
Showing our age again ???????????? Thanks for reading, folks, and don’t forget to share!
So long and thanks for reading all the phish!
