2 GHMC corporators FB accounts hacked

Widespread digitisation has led to an increase in cyberattacks, and the latest to fall prey, were two Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) corporators.

Cyberstalkers hacked into the social media accounts of the two corporators and interacted with people on their behalf. The corporators approached the cyber crime police and sought their help to block the unauthorised activity on their accounts and to take action on the crooks.

Mehdipatnam corporator and GHMC standing council member Masjid Hussain have two Facebook accounts. Recently both his accounts were hacked by a user Suvera Sarfaraz. Masjid was alert and warned the user. But, the user became enraged and started posting abusive and obscene content on the pages and also began to interact with Masjid’s friends on his list, which included citizens, public representatives and officials from several government agencies in the city.

In the second case, Mangalhat corporator Parameswari's Facebook account was hacked by a user going with the name William Murphy. Parameswari’s page had regular updates on government programs, welfare schemes and development activities taken up in her area. The hackers removed these details and started posting obscene content. Though she deleted the posts initially, the posts kept coming and were noticed by her friends, she then lodged a complaint with police.

Cybercrime officials from the city have initiated a probe into both the cases. An advisory was issued to all public representatives to be cautious of any suspicious activity on their social media pages and to report them immediately.