ISIS Hackers Warn of Cyber Attacks in Every US State; Cyber Caliphate Takes Over News Outlets' Twitter

ISIS may be fighting the United States with cyber attacks with its hacker group known as the Cyber Caliphate. The Federal Bureau of Investigation is currently investigating a series of hacking incidents involving U.S. news outlets. Cyber Caliphate has claimed it is part of ISIS and declared plans of more attacks in officers and homes across the country.

According to New York Daily News, some of the first media outlets' Twitter accounts that were hacked by the group include the Albuquerque Journal and WBOC 16 in Maryland. ISIS' Cyber Caliphate wrote on their Facebook page, which was removed shortly after, the "infidels" will see no mercy from them since the hackers are in their PCs and office. The hackers warned that their attacks have begun in New Mexico and will soon reach every state in the U.S.

The ISIS hacker group threatened that it will not stop since it has acquired personal data, such as home addresses, medical records and health insurance cards. They were able to take some of the news outlet's Twitter accounts and posted personal information like driver's licences, corrections records and lists of hundreds of names and addresses. The group also changed the cover photos of the news outlets with ISIS-themed pictures.

In a tweet using the Twitter account of WBOC 16, the Cyber Caliphate claimed it has hacked the databases of the FBI. According to the Washington Post, ISIS has been using social media to distribute propaganda and graphic imagery of their acts of violence. The militant group has also developed a Twitter app known as "Dawn" to highlight the group's social media posts, the Atlantic previously reported.

Meanwhile, the U.S. is investigating reports of civilian casualties from airstrikes it launched to target ISIS in Iraq and Syria. The Pentagon has confirmed for the first time that the U.S. Central Command was investigating the incidents. Military.com reported that U.S. military officials have previously denied reports of human rights groups about airstrikes hitting civilians. However, the Rear Adm. John Kirby, Pentagon press secretary, acknowledged that senior officials were looking into credible reports of civilian casualties.

Since the offensive against ISIS began in 2014, over 1,600 airstrikes had been launched by the U.S. and its allies, including the Iraqi and Kurdish Peshmerga forces. ISIS was not able to make significant gains in the recent weeks but Kirby said they continue to threaten the town of Ramadi in the western Anbar province.

Contact email: r.su@ibtimes.com.au