Odex website HACKED

By Liew Hanqing
hanqing@sph.com.sg

Local anime distributor Odex took another blow when its website was hacked and defaced late on Wednesday.

The company's main website, www.odex.com.sg, was replaced with a gaudy pink page displaynig an angry message from the hacker.

The message read: "This server was fully hacked because the things Odex are doing are just completely wrong!"

The hacker expressed anger over Odex's copyright enforcement actions.

The hacker also claimed the site was poorly designed and programmed.

"You can see that by the fact that the server is now hacked," the person wrote.

The hacker posted links to several anti-Odex sites and suggested alternative methods to illegally download anime.

Odex director Stephen Sing told The New Paper the site was taken down yesterday.

He said: "We are still assessing the damage and are looking into the matter."

He added the company would make a police report.

Odex had recently caused an uproar after it sent out hundreds of letters to alleged anime downloaders, demanding payment of $3,000 to $5,000 for its enforcement expenses.

NOVICE HACKER

Online security expert Aloysius Cheang said the attack looked like the work of a novice who had probably downloaded a simple hacking program to gain unauthorised access to the site.

"Organised hack groups often claim credit for their work. This looks like it was done out of individual vengeance," he said.

Regulars on anime forums are now speculating that the hacker may even have announced his deed on a popular anime forum right after hacking the site.

Just minutes after the attack, a newly-registered user wrote on popular anime forum Animesuki: "I just thought I'd inform you that your all-time favourite anime vendor has been owned.

"The hackers made it clear that corporate ******* like Odex will not destroy our community. Fight back!"

Within hours, forums were abuzz with reactions. Some applauded the hacker, while others said it was foolish and irresponsible.

Wrote one user: "I'm not against taking action against Odex in some way, like boycotting their products, but defacing their website is certainly not the way to do it."

Added another: "Now that they've had their site defaced, they look like the victims of a bunch of unruly pirate hackers."

Under the Computer Misuse Act, it is an offence to access computers or modify data on them without permission. Those convicted face penalties of up to $15,000 and five years jail.

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Source: The New Paper, 23 Nov 2007