Egypt Hacked Vodafone to Send Pro-Regime Texts

Updated below with David Wolman's reports on the substance of the pro-government texts.

One of the largest mobile providers in Egypt said the regime of Hosni Mubarak sent unattributed pro-regime text messages out over its network. And it's not happy about the hack.

A Vodafone statement said that "since the start of the protests" the regime has used emergency authorities to send "messages to the people of Egypt." Rival providers Mobinil and Etisalat are subject to the same authority. None of the messages are "scripted by any of the mobile-network operators and we do not have the ability to respond to the authorities on their content."

People in Egypt have been surprised to receive unsolicited texts expressing support for the regime. Mubarak's government shut down internet and cellular communications between Friday and Wednesday in an unsuccessful attempt to stop mass demonstrations calling for Mubarak's resignation. But it evidently had a strategy to send disinformation and confusion straight to demonstrators' phones.

"Vodafone Group has protested to the authorities that the current situation regarding these messages is unacceptable," the company said. "We have made clear that all messages should be transparent and clearly attributable to the originator."

As the regime turned mobile networks back on Wednesday, the day saw bloody clashes in Cairo, with an estimated 1,500 people injured and at least seven dead. A week's worth of protests had all been peaceful, but the regime evidently sent goon squads into Tahrir Square, a protest epicenter, after Mubarak called on the police to "shoulder its responsibilities."

New prime minister Ahmed Shafik vowed Thursday to investigate the confrontation. But he said one of the subjects would be the "total absence of state security" in Egypt during the protests, suggesting a foregone conclusion absolving the Mubarak regime of responsibility. It remains to be seen if Shafik will have anything to say about the decision to hack Vodafone.

Vodafone's voice and data networks are working in Egypt as of Thursday morning, but SMS remains down.

Update, 9:40 a.m.: David Wolman reported on the substance of those mysterious pro-government texts. Written before Vodafone's confirmation of the hack, he asked, "After first turning off the internet, is it possible the regime is now trying to use digital technology to build -- or bluff -- its pro-Mubarak counteroffensive?"

Wolman had more:

Wednesday morning in Cairo, some tech-savvy locals are already voicing their suspicions about text messages received from Vodafone. Mandi Fahmy, a local journalist and translator, reported that she received the following message from Vodafone, sent on February 1 -- when customers still did not have internet access or cellphone service.

"Egypt's youth. Beware rumors and listen to the voice of reason. Egypt is above all so preserve it."

Another message, this one on February 2: "To each mother-father-sister-brother, to every honest citizen. Preserve this country because the homeland stays forever."

And then this one, from something called "Egyptlovers": "A sweeping demonstration starting at noon on Wednesday from the Mustafa Mahmoud square in Mohandessin to support president Mubarak."

Fahmy is quick to add that she can not verify what, or whom, was behind these messages, but she finds them worrisome. "I can't claim the regime is doing this because the wording of the messages is so careful," she said via email Wednesday afternoon. "I am wondering where they got our numbers, though." If it is the government, she says, it's certainly well within the realm of possibility, considering all that has been happening.

Photo: Flickr/bennylin0724

See Also:

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• Mubarak Wants One Last Crackdown for The Road
• Horses, Camels, Rocks, Molotovs: Egypt's Thug Tech
• Cairo's Band of Geeks Survives Tahrir Square Assault