They're the ones who protect us from crime, but now one local police agency is a crime victim.
They know who, but investigators are trying to figure out how hackers were able to take over the Berrien County Sheriff's Department website.
Anonymous IRC, a group known for targeting government websites, started a cyber attack last Monday dubbed “Shoot the Sheriff Sunday.”
It's believed hackers somehow gained passwords of several county IT employees who update the website. “By gaining access, they changed a lot. They put up some profanity and their ideals,” says Chuck Heit, undersheriff.
So what exactly did the group post? Unflattering words about Berrien County Sheriff Paul Bailey and Heit. Taunts targeted at the county’s IT staff. A Mark Twain quote and several poems, one of which focused on showing love to those who fought for freedom of speech.
What’s supposed to be on the website? Inmate records and booking information as well as some staff biographies.
The Berrien County Sheriff’s Department website was down for roughly three days, coming back online Wednesday. It’s unknown if any other area sheriff’s department websites were also targeted.
Heit says the FBI is working with Berrien County in its hacking investigation.
