21 votes

Dutch researcher claims that he accessed US President Donald Trump's Twitter account by guessing password

14 comments

  1. [7]
    rkcr
    Link
    Just... wow. I can't believe that such an important governmental communication tool didn't have basic security on it.

    Donald Trump’s Twitter account was hacked last week, after a Dutch researcher correctly guessed the president’s password: “maga2020!”.

    Just... wow.

    Gevers said the ease with which he accessed Trump’s account suggested the president was not using basic security measures like two-step verification.

    I can't believe that such an important governmental communication tool didn't have basic security on it.

    20 votes
    1. [6]
      Comment deleted by author
      Link Parent
      1. Deimos
        (edited )
        Link Parent
        Yes, and it's true. It's how a lot of the government communicates now, often with no other "more official" source. The White House defined Trump tweets as official statements from the President...

        Yes, and it's true. It's how a lot of the government communicates now, often with no other "more official" source. The White House defined Trump tweets as official statements from the President years ago.

        There was even very recently an argument happening in court with the Department of Justice, where the DOJ was having trouble claiming that his tweets don't count as official orders because it's previously been treated as an official channel.

        Edit: just looked for updates on that case, and Trump's chief of staff had to submit a sworn declaration that the President didn't actually mean what he tweeted.

        16 votes
      2. Greg
        Link Parent
        You can argue about whether it should be, but I think it's impossible to deny that it currently is. Presidential tweets can move markets, influence international relations, steer negotiations, and...

        You can argue about whether it should be, but I think it's impossible to deny that it currently is. Presidential tweets can move markets, influence international relations, steer negotiations, and generally have far-reaching consequences.

        If anything, Trump has probably reduced that impact slightly, through sheer volume and a track record of contradiction and fabrication. Even then, the power of a well placed comment from his account can rival that of a major news article.

        10 votes
      3. rkcr
        Link Parent
        I wish it were not so, but it's undeniable that Trump regularly uses Twitter to announce changes to the government (often before anyone else knows about it). I used the word "important" because of...

        I wish it were not so, but it's undeniable that Trump regularly uses Twitter to announce changes to the government (often before anyone else knows about it).

        I used the word "important" because of the way it's used atm, not because it should be important.

        6 votes
      4. Diff
        Link Parent
        Like it or not, he's POTUS. Any method he uses to communicate becomes important. It's not that anyone believes that about Twitter, it's about who's using it and what for.

        Like it or not, he's POTUS. Any method he uses to communicate becomes important. It's not that anyone believes that about Twitter, it's about who's using it and what for.

        6 votes
      5. PendingKetchup
        Link Parent
        It gets used a lot at the local level too, especially for emergencies. Want to know whether your town is about to burn down? Check with your local fire agency on Twitter.

        It gets used a lot at the local level too, especially for emergencies. Want to know whether your town is about to burn down? Check with your local fire agency on Twitter.

        2 votes
    2. ohyran
      Link Parent
      The US nuclear code where for several decades "00000" (although that factoid comes from Qi I think so may be total arsewater :D )

      The US nuclear code where for several decades "00000" (although that factoid comes from Qi I think so may be total arsewater :D )

      1 vote
  2. RapidEyeMovement
    Link
    Well this is interesting...

    Well this is interesting...

    In a statement, Twitter spokesperson Ian Plunkett said: “We’ve seen no evidence to corroborate this claim, including from the article published in the Netherlands today. We proactively implemented account security measures for a designated group of high-profile, election-related Twitter accounts in the United States, including federal branches of government.”[1]

    14 votes
  3. [4]
    Flashynuff
    Link
    I would let this story marinate a little while before coming up with a take - it's possible this was a joke. Of course, it's not like either Twitter or the White House have a good track record on...

    I would let this story marinate a little while before coming up with a take - it's possible this was a joke. Of course, it's not like either Twitter or the White House have a good track record on this sort of thing...

    See this thread for a little more info https://mobile.twitter.com/xor/status/1319314475430891520

    9 votes
    1. [3]
      Deimos
      Link Parent
      I don't really see much indication that it's a joke. Victor Gevers seems to have been tweeting about it for at least a few days recently, including this one three days ago:

      I don't really see much indication that it's a joke. Victor Gevers seems to have been tweeting about it for at least a few days recently, including this one three days ago:

      Dear @realDonaldTrump,
      I've tried to notify multiple times because of your passwords for Twitter are too weak. Last Friday, I contacted @CISAgov, @TeamTrump, @WhiteHouse, @DonaldJTrumpJr, and @twittersecurity, just like in Oct 2016. But no one responds. Please keep 2FA enabled!

      14 votes
      1. Flashynuff
        Link Parent
        Well that's just depressing.

        Well that's just depressing.

        8 votes
  4. [2]
    cfabbro
    (edited )
    Link
    Necropost, but a pretty relevent update IMO: Trump's Twitter account was hacked, Dutch ministry confirms CC: @Flashnuff and @Deimos, since you were discussing whether it was legit or not.

    Necropost, but a pretty relevent update IMO:
    Trump's Twitter account was hacked, Dutch ministry confirms

    CC: @Flashnuff and @Deimos, since you were discussing whether it was legit or not.

    5 votes
    1. Sand
      Link Parent
      Hahahahaha.

      It was not the first time Gevers had gained access to the president’s Twitter account: In 2016 he and two others guessed Trump’s password, which at the time was “yourefired” – the catchphrase from the reality TV The Apprentice.

      Hahahahaha.