Hackers are defacing Reddit with pro-Trump messages

August 7, 2020 TH Author

A massive hack has hit Reddit today after tens of Reddit channels have been hacked and defaced to show messages in support of Donald Trump’s reelection campaign.

The hacks are still ongoing at the time of writing, but we were told Reddit’s security team is aware of the issue and has already begun restoring defaced channels.

A partial list of impacted channels (subreddits) is available below. This includes Reddit channels for the NFL, many TV shows, The Pirate Bay, Disneyland, Disney’s Avengers, several city channels, and more. Combined, the channels have tens of millions of subscribers.

The Reddit security team said the hack took place after the intruder(s) took over subreddit moderator accounts. Several moderators have also come forward to admit that their accounts have been hacked and that they did not use two-factor authentication. Channel owners who are having problems have been asked to report problems in this Reddit ModSupport thread.

An account on Twitter took credit for the hack. However, the account’s owners did not respond to a request for comment so ZDNet can verify its claims. The account is now suspended.

The Reddit hack also comes after Reddit banned r/The_Donald, a channel for Donald Trump supporters, in late June. Reddit said it took the decision to ban the channel for breaking its community rules after reports of harassment, bullying, and threats of violence.

Today’s stunt is reminiscent to a similar one that took place at the end of June and the start of July, when more than 1,800 Roblox accounts were hacked and defaced with a similar pro-Trump reelection message.