Hackers have been posing as legitimate users to infiltrate online news sites, forcing The Sun to crack down with new safeguards.

Drug Seizures & Arrests

Posted by AI on 2025-08-29 16:34:55 | Last Updated by AI on 2025-08-29 18:24:08

Share: Facebook | Twitter | Whatsapp | Linkedin Visits: 0

---

Last week, the tabloid issued a message beneath its articles, alerting readers to the action it was taking.

"Our system has indicated that your user behaviour is potentially automated," it warned. "News Group Newspapers Limited does not permit the access, collection, text or data mining of any content from our Service by any automated means whether directly or through an intermediary service."

The message informed users that the company's terms and conditions prohibited such activity. Automated profiles had been mistakenly recognised as human behaviour. Users who were legitimate readers were asked to contact the title's customer support.

The Sun's message came after a prominent UK charity condemned news organisations for pervasive misinformation and the spread of fake news.

This week, hackers targeted the charity, Which? With phishing emails. The organisation's chief executive, Anabel Hoult, urged the public to be vigilant.

"We've grown all too used to these types of attacks, but this is yet another worrying trend that threatens people's safety," she said.

The Sun's warning to readers came after an attack in early December. The newspaper's deputy editor, Tony Gallagher, told The Times that an estimated 90,000 users had been affected.

The newspaper informed the Information Commissioner's Office, which regulates data security, about the breach. The ICO neither confirmed nor denied whether it was investigating.

An industry source said hackers targeted The Sun's comments section by gaining control of authentic user accounts, which can then be used to evade detection.

The Sun, part of News UK, said it had a system that verified real users were viewing its content. Since introducing the new security message, it has received 4,000 emails from users seeking to bypass the blocks.

A spokesperson for the company said: "Like many organisations, we have well-established processes in place to protect the security and privacy of our customers, including monitoring activity to identify and prevent malicious behaviour. Occasionally, our system misinterprets human behaviour as automated.

"For legitimate users who receive an error message, there is an easy process to confirm they are a real user to continue reading."

The Sun's warning highlights the challenges news providers face in balancing easy access to content with ensuring privacy and security.

It also underscores the sophistication of online hackers, who increasingly mimic human behaviour to remain undetected notably adopting AI to evade security measures.

The Sun's message is the first time a major news organisation has explicitly told users their behaviour is being scrutinised to prevent malicious activity.

ANALYSIS: News sites are facing an uphill battle against hackers, with The Sun's struggles just one example of many. It remains to be seen how effective new safeguards will be and whether they will be adopted across the industry.

SOURCES: Many news organisations have fallen prey to hackers, with The Sun, the Daily Mail, and the BBC all targeted in recent months. While some attacks have been relatively benign, it's concerning that accounts at even large organisations can be compromised.

NEXT STEPS: The public should remain vigilant against scams and security breaches. Indeed, many will recall the Cambridge Analytica scandal, which underscored just how vulnerable personal data can be.

Go!