National carrier Malaysia Airlines’ (MAS) official website was hacked on Monday, but the airline said that its data servers and passenger bookings remained intact.
The hack attack was carried by a group calling itself “Official Cyber Caliphate”.
When the users turned up to MAS’ official website, www.malaysiaairlines.com, a photograph of a lizard was showed in a top hat, monocle and tuxedo, surrounded by the messages ‘Hacked by Lizard Squad – Official Cyber Caliphate’ and ‘404 – Plane Not Found’. A rap song was also heard.
MAS, however, said in a statement that its website was not hacked, and the users were only redirected to a hacker website.
“Malaysia Airlines assures customers and clients that its website was not hacked and this temporary glitch does not affect their bookings and that user data remains secured,” the statement said.
The air carrier also said that the services to its official site would be resumed within 22 hours.
According to some media reports, the website had prior carried the words “ISIS will prevail” but later the slogan could not been seen on the site.
Militant Islamic State group (ISIS) has proclaimed a caliphate after seizing territory in Syria and Iraq.
The year 2014 had been a bad year for Malaysia Airlines as it has lost two flights. While Flight MH370 with 239 passengers and crew on board disappeared mysteriously last March, Flight MH17 along with all 298 passengers and crew was shot down over eastern Ukraine on July 17.
The Malaysian government has taken the airline private late last year.
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