Apparent pro-Syria group hacks Harvard website

(AP) -- Hackers have briefly defaced Harvard University's website, replacing the home page with an image of Syria's President Bashar Assad together with a message accusing the U.S. of supporting the uprising against him and threatening retaliation.

Harvard spokesman John Longrake says Monday morning's attack appears to be the work of "a sophisticated individual or group."

The hackers posted a message claiming "Syrian Electronic Army Were Here," a reference to an apparent pro-Syrian government group that has conducted electronic attacks targeting opposition figures and their perceived backers.

Harvard took down the hacked website for several hours. The school is studying the attack to improve security.

The attack occurred the same day two online activist groups said they hacked several official Syrian websites in the latest tactic to oppose Assad's authoritarian regime.