Full report on BBC News Online

Micro-blogging service Twitter and social networking site Facebook have been severely disrupted by hackers.

Twitter was taken offline for more than two hours whilst Facebook's service was "degraded", according to the firms.

The popular sites were subject to so-called denial-of-service attacks on Thursday, the companies believe.

Denial-of-service (DOS) attacks take various forms but often involve a company's servers being flooded with data in an effort to disable them.

"Attacks such as this are malicious efforts orchestrated to disrupt and make unavailable services such as online banks, credit card payment gateways, and in this case, Twitter for intended customers or users," said Twitter co-founder Biz Stone on the company's blog.

The service was restored shortly after the blog post, but the companies have had to continue to fend off the attack.

Facebook said its service was reduced but not taken offline.

"No user data was at risk and we have restored full access to the site for most users," spokeswoman Brandee Barker told the AFP news agency.

"We're continuing to monitor the situation to ensure that users have the fast and reliable experience they've come to expect from Facebook."

Facebook is running normal again.  Don't know about Twitter.  One report said a hacker from France claimed responsibility.

I follow one particalur Twitter, and that page is certainly down.

I wondered why I had problems getting on Facebook today.

Popular DJ deadmau5 mentioned on his Facebook that he got hacked

Facebook is running normal again.  Don't know about Twitter.  One report said a hacker from France claimed responsibility.
Both are up and running now.

Google was hit too, but I did not noticed it.

Let's be glad they are not trying to mess with inthe00s.com.

Or maybe it is the hackers who should be glad.  If they attempted to mess with our motley crew, I suspect we would all open up a fresh whole case of whoop-ass on them.  ;D

I pity da fool, who messes with in the 00's.com!

;D

Should inthe00s.com have a twitter page?

Let's be glad they are not trying to mess with inthe00s.com.

Or maybe it is the hackers who should be glad.  If they attempted to mess with our motley crew, I suspect we would all open up a fresh whole case of whoop-ass on them.   ;D


That would require organization but we'll try anything once.  What does whoop-ass entail????  Curiosity is killing me.

A blogger who was targeted in a co-ordinated attack against websites such as Facebook and Twitter has told the BBC he blames Russia for the assault.