Hackers attacked Ireland’s main opposition party Fine Gael’s website and gained access to the personal information such as phone numbers, emails and personal computer details of about 2,000 people.
Anonymous, a hacker group that is known to attack websites, parties or companies that oppose the whistleblowing site WikiLeaks, claimed it had attacked the site.
However, the group did not specify why it chose the website of Ireland’s second largest political party.
The party launched its website just last week asking Ireland citizens to share their thoughts on how to improve the country.
Following the attack, visitors to the hacked site were greeted with the lines which urged the citizens not to trust a political party that offers people free speech, but censors their voice.
The hacker group also replaced the political party’s catchphrase with its own lines.
A note on the party’s website stated: "The website will be offline while we follow-up with the appropriate authorities to resolve the matter."
The party said it has notified users who may have been affected by the attack. Now, the FBI is investigating the matter, according to media reports.
