Left-wing web sites attacked

Left-wing web sites attacked
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
ISTANBUL – Daily News with wires

A number of left-wing Internet news portals, including Birgün, Bianet and Sendika.org, were attacked Tuesday by unknown hackers, and some sites are reportedly still facing technical problems.

The publication of Bianet.org was interrupted Tuesday between 3:30 p.m. and 11.30 p.m. as a result of a cyber attack. On their website, Bianet.org said they believed this was an organized attack and tens of thousands of computers were controlled for the attack via Trojan viruses. “The attack is currently still going on, but the publication is continuing,” the website said.

The website of left-wing Birgün newspaper, birgun.net, was another target attacked Tuesday. In a statement, site administrators said access to the daily’s website had been made almost impossible. Another leftist website sendika.org was attacked Tuesday evening, CNNTürk reported Wednesday. The Independent Communication Network, or BİA, said they would file a complaint regarding the attack.

Sezgin Tanrıkulu, deputy chairman of the Republican People’s Party, or CHP, said instead of filtering the Internet, the ruling Justice and Development Party, or AKP, should prevent virtual attacks on libertarian, democratic and leftist websites. In a written statement, Tanrıkulu said these attacks cannot stop web-based media.

According to him, the ruling party is responsible for solving the problem. “The AKP, through bringing a password system for accessing the Internet, wants to dominate the people with its own mentality,” said Tanrıkulu, adding that the party seems to have taken the side of the attackers as it tries to pressure oppositional voices. ..source