TV5Monde forced off air

French television network TV5Monde has been hacked by people claiming allegiance to ISIS, forcing it to broadcast only pre-recorded programmes.
The hackers completely cut transmission of 11 channels belonging to Paris-based TV5 Monde and took over its websites and social media accounts for a full three hours early this morning.
The channel’s director, Yves Bigot, said the attack was continuing this morning. He told RTL radio that the network has restored its signal but can only broadcast recorded programs, not live content.

The hackers posted documents on TV5Monde’s Facebook page purporting to be the identity cards and CVs of relatives of French soldiers involved in anti-ISIS operation in Iraq.
It also reportedly made specific threats against French troops.
‘Soldiers of France, stay away from the Islamic State! You have the chance to save your families, take advantage of it,’ read one message on TV5Monde’s Facebook page. ‘The CyberCaliphate continues its cyberjihad against the enemies of Islamic State,’ the message added.

TV5Monde regained control of its social networks by 2:00 am this morning but television broadcasts were likely to take hours, if not days, to return to normal.
The attack would have required weeks of preparation, Bigot said.
Late last night Bigot told the AFP news agency: ‘We are no longer able to broadcast any of our channels. Our websites and social media sites are no longer under our control and are all displaying claims of responsibility by Islamic State.’
The website was still offline by 9:00am local time today, displaying an ‘under maintenance’ note to visitors.
Prime Minister Manuel Valls said the hack was an ‘unacceptable attack on the freedom of information and expression’, voicing ‘total solidarity with the editorial staff.’
The hackers had accused French President Francois Hollande of committing ‘an unforgivable mistake’ by getting involved in ‘a war that serves no purpose’.
‘That’s why the French received the gifts of Charlie Hebdo and Hyper Cacher in January,’ it said on the broadcaster’s Facebook page, referring to the twin attacks by Islamist gunmen in Paris that left 17 people dead over three days and deeply shocked France.