Attempts to hack SAPP’s Google account
KOTA KINABALU: Hackers are attacking the Google account of the Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) as campaigning for the 14th General Election entered its fourth day.
SAPP election director of operations Melanie Chia said the party’s Google account administrator noticed attempted illegal logins from 8.15am on Tuesday.
“We began tracing the origins of these attacks and a bulk of them were from Kuala Lumpur,” she said on Tuesday, attaching a screenshot of the proof of hacking attempt from KL.
Apart from the hacking attempts, there are also multiple postings to attack SAPP by using false claims on its Facebook page, and these were traced to individuals in Kuala Lumpur, Perak, Johor and Penang, Melanie added.
The hacking attempts appeared to be from Kuala Lumpur, Perak, Johor and Penang, Melanie added.
Melanie said the party would be lodging a report with the Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission (MCMC).
“We checked back through the IP (Internet Protocol) address and the hacking attempts could be through a combination of these devices such as smartphones, tablets and laptops.
“I strongly believe this is an organised effort to hack into our Facebook page,” she said.
Melanie said if they managed to gain access, the hackers could then sign into any of our Google account related services such as Facebook and YouTube.
They could then post fake news and defamatory statements that would be adversely affect SAPP and the Gabungan Sabah coalition it belonged to, she said.
“I don’t understand why are we being targeted? Are we such a threat to Malaya parties? Or is it what we have been fighting for including getting back what is rightfully belongs to Sabah worrying them?” she said.
Melanie added the party was increasing security measures of all its internet-related accounts including emails, Facebook, WhatsApp by frequently changing the passwords.
The hacking attempts came just a day after Melanie, the SAPP deputy president said those contesting in the polls should not resort to underhanded tactics such as smear campaigns.