Moroccan Hacktivists Target Foreign Sites, Sparking International Cyber Conflicts

Hacktivists are militant hackers attacking sites in Egypt, Morocco, Spain, and Israel. Their screen messages resemble banners used in protests, supporting various political, social, or religious ideologies. Active in Morocco, they often hack sensitive security systems.

Behind their computer screens, these hackers meticulously encode and decode IT security systems, seeking the slightest vulnerability to launch attacks. Known as hackers in Morocco, they relentlessly penetrate local and foreign sites. Egypt, Kuwait, and Israel have all fallen victim to their actions.

Rise of Hacktivism

These hackers are not casual credit card thieves but belong to a new category of activists known as “hacktivists.” The Internet fuels this underground movement, but their ideological beliefs keep it alive. “It is the oldest form of hacking. Many developing countries resort to this mode of protest,” says Ali El Azzouzi, a Moroccan IT security expert. Recently, Morocco, like many other countries, has seen a surge in hacking.

Born Hackers

Hackers are often young, under 20, and computer enthusiasts. “Hacktivists can be grouped into two categories: ‘white hat’ and ‘black hat.’ White hats break into networks without causing havoc, while black hats have destructive, sometimes profit-driven, intentions,” said a young ‘geek’ who spoke anonymously.

Hacktivists organize in groups, sometimes using unsuspecting names like “Ghosts of Morocco” or more aggressive ones like “Team Evil.” Damien, an IT journalist at Zataz, says, “This is a group of young guys fooling around. Hacking is their hobby. Some push political ideologies, but often, these are excuses to engage in hacking.”

Acts of Piracy

Militant hackers are busy with their latest feats. They recently targeted a Spanish disco site, Meca, resembling a mosque with a dome and minaret. On September 13, hackers replaced the homepage with a picture of the Haram al-Sharif (Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem) and a hacker’s signature: a male face with a red cap bearing a star. The hacker’s message read: “Do you want to discover one day that your church has become a place dedicated to livestock or garbage?”

In the same month, Morocco’s hackers attacked Egypt’s Ministry of Communications after the broadcast of the TV movie Dishonor, which they claimed insulted Moroccan women’s integrity.

Online Activism’s Emergence

This type of online activism emerged in 2006 with “Team Evil.” The group hacked over 750 Israeli sites in response to Israel’s offensive in the Gaza Strip. The hacked sites displayed warning messages like “Site hacked by Team Evil Arab Hackers. As long as you kill Palestinians, we will kill your servers.”

Israel’s response was swift. Around 250 Internet sites in Morocco were attacked. Unlike Israel, Morocco suffered significant damage. Israel’s “TEAM Good” attacked the Moroccan ISP Omihost, affecting crucial servers containing backups. This incident marked the official launch of Web warfare and hacktivism.

Hacktivism’s Dual Nature

Despite its political agenda, hacktivism remains illegal and destructive. “The intention is commendable, but the act is not,” says Anas El Filali B., founder of the blog Big Brother.

Vulnerability and Determination

Hacktivism’s rise is due to system vulnerabilities and hackers’ religious determination. Few ministries have tools capable of deterring cyber attacks. Hacktivists operate freely in Morocco. “It is a conquered land,” says Ali El Azzouzi. “The sites are not secure, and there is a legal vacuum in this area.”

The Moroccan Penal Code frowns upon cybercrime and database intrusions, but laws on personal data protection are rarely enforced. “Judges are not trained enough and do not know who they are dealing with,” says the expert.

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