Hackers target Jeep's Twitter account

Hackers referencing hip-hop acts took over US automaker Jeep's Twitter account Tuesday in an attack not unlike one the day before that targeted fast food chain Burger King.

"The official Twitter handle for the Jeep®—Just Empty Every Pocket," read the revised profile at @Jeep that claimed the Chrysler division had been sold to General Motors' luxury brand Cadillac.

Bogus tweets name-checked New York-born hip hop legend 50 Cent as well as Chicago rapper Chief Keef, 17, who is currently serving a 60-day sentence in juvenile detention on a gun charge.

"We're aware of the issue and are working to resolve it as quickly as possible," Jeep spokesman Todd Goyer told AFP by email.

"Thanks for all the heads up on one of our brand accounts," added Chrysler to the more than 51,000 followers of its corporate Twitter feed. "The team is on it. It's good so many of you have our back!"

Burger King sustained a virtual Big Mac attack Monday when its Twitter account (@BurgerKing) was hacked then reconfigured with a false claim of a takeover by its rival McDonald's. The feed was back online Tuesday.

(c) 2013 AFP