Hackers take puff out of anti-smoking ban sites

Two anti-smoking ban websites were redirected to the NHS Smokefree website over the weekend, after hackers changed the domain name settings to the give-up smoking website.

Lobby groups Freedom2Choose and Forces International, were both hit by a Denial of Service (DNS) poisoning attack, resulting in UK users being shown the NHS Smokefree homepage, instead of the websites they were looking for.

A Freedom2Choose spokesperson told E-Health Insider: “The websites of two prominent pro-choice organisations campaigning against smoking bans were yesterday targeted by hackers in a ‘pharming’ incident that redirected traffic to the NHS Smokefree website.

The spokesperson added: “The DNS poisoning, a high level and sophisticated hacking technique, affected all UK-based internet service providers. The hacking incident has been reported to the relevant authorities and is under investigation.”

Though the hacker has yet to be identified, both organisations claimed the incident was evidence that anti-smoking ban campaigns were annoying senior pro-smoking ban campaigners.

Andy Davis, vice chairman of Freedom to Choose, said: "It appears that Freedom to Choose has annoyed someone high-up, it seems they don't want the truth to get out."

Stephanie Stahl, president of Forces International, added: "To re-direct our UK visitors to an anti-smoking website shows that the anti-smoking movement must be very nervous about the information our pro-freedom groups provide.”

Both websites are now up and running normally again and a full investigation is underway.

Links

Freedom2Choose

Forces International

NHS Smokefree