Fox Head Murdoch Shutting Down UK‘s ’News of the World’ Tabloid Amid Phone Hacking Scandal
- Posted on July 7, 2011 at 12:18pm by
Jonathon M. Seidl
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Fox News owner Rupert Murdoch.
James Murdoch, who heads the newspaper’s European operations, says the 168-year-old newspaper will publish its last edition Sunday. The scandal has cost the paper prestige and prompted dozens of companies to pull their ads.
“The good things the News of the World does, however, have been sullied by behaviour that was wrong,” James Murdoch said in a statement. “Indeed, if recent allegations are true, it was inhuman and has no place in our Company.
“The News of the World is in the business of holding others to account. But it failed when it came to itself.”
The Rupert Murdoch-owned tabloid is accused of hacking into the cell phone messages of victims ranging from missing schoolgirls to grieving families, celebrities, royals and politicians in a quest for attention-grabbing headlines.
Police say they are examining 4,000 names of people who may have been targeted by the paper.
Those accused of hacking on behalf of Murdoch’s publication were alleged to have employed a variety of ruses. Glenn Mulcaire, the private investigator at the center of the phone hacking scandal, once targeted members of Britain’s royal household by duping phone operators into handing over their personal codes. Those PIN codes in turn allowed him and tabloid journalist Clive Goodman to listen in on the royal family’s voicemails.
Many of the methods that phone hackers use are surprisingly low-tech.
“Pretexting” is a common technique for fooling company representatives into giving up a customer’s private account information. A pretexting scheme works like this: A hacker calls up the telephone company pretending to be his victim. An agent asks for personal information, such as mother’s maiden name or a pass code, to determine the person’s identity. The customer service rep then surrenders call logs or passwords if the information is convincing enough.
Perhaps the most famous example of pretexting emerged in 2006 when it was revealed that Hewlett-Packard Co. was spying on journalists and its own board members by hiring private investigators to retrieve their phone logs. The practice was already illegal in the U.S., but was common in the world of private investigations because prosecutions were rare. After the HP debacle, new federal legislation clarified the penalties. Anyone found guilty of pretexting in the U.S. could face up to 10 years in prison.
Knowing bits of key information -such as a Social Security number, names of family members on the accounts – can help a hacker establish credibility in pretexting attacks. Having access to the target’s e-mail account can be valuable as well.
In other cases in Britain, all journalists had to do was dial directly into victims’ phones and enter a default or easy-to-remember password, such as “1111,” to gain access to their voicemails.
The News of the World fiasco has led to prison terms for an investigator and a former reporter for the tabloid, caused several major companies to pull advertising. It is complicating Murdoch’s attempt at a multibillion-pound (dollar) takeover of British Sky Broadcasting, which some in government now insist should be blocked because of the hacking incident.
Authorities say tabloid staffers may have interfered with police investigations by hacking into the cellphone of a 13-year-old girl who was eventually found murdered. The staffers are also being investigated on allegations of tampering with phones of victims of the July 7, 2005, terrorist attacks in London, which killed 52 people.
Just as many people are surprised by how easy it is to hack into someone’s Internet e-mail account – the “forgot my password” feature is reviled by many security professionals- it may be surprising as well that phone accounts aren’t much safer.
Unlike an ATM withdrawal that requires a bank card and a PIN code, voicemail typically only requires a PIN code.
Today, we simply store too much information and don’t take enough advantage of technologies such as voice recognition, for instance, that could better secure voicemail, said Mark Rasch, director of cybersecurity and privacy consulting for Computer Sciences Corp.
“The four-digit PIN will someday die, but I can’t tell you when,” Rasch said. “Businesses still like it, and people like it because it’s easy and easy to remember. But it’s only easy and easy to remember if you use the same PIN for everything – and once you do that, if you’ve compromised it one place, you’ve compromised everywhere.”
If all else fails, hackers can sometimes purchase phone information. Britain‘s Guardian newspaper has reported allegations that other investigators paid bribes to obtain information from Britain’s police database, the drivers’ licensing agency, and cell phone companies.
The phone numbers and passwords were obtained in industrial quantities. Last year Scotland Yard said that some 4,000 names, 3,000 cell phone numbers and nearly 100 passwords had been found in Mulcaire’s notes when he was arrested.
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Comments (62)
Chet Hempstead
Posted on July 7, 2011 at 3:48pm‘Kudos to the Blaze for covering a story that reflects badly on the conservative press. Facts shouldn’t have an agenda, but this is the first I’ve seen the story mentioned outside of the most left leaning outlets.
They left out the most nauseating detail, though. The guy who hacked the phone of the missing girl didn’t just listen to the messages, he erased some of them to make room for more. This gave the family and police false hope that she might still be alive.
Report Post »saranda
Posted on July 7, 2011 at 3:19pmMurdoch’s company has a long list of this sort of embarassing behaviour. My favourite was the leaked memos last year with instructions to on air personalities on how to refer to spin the health care debate and global warming to illicit maximum negative viewer reaction. Or the one where they used footage from an unrelated rally to exaggerate the crowd size at a Tea Party rally, and then in an attempt to show that the MSM was ignoring the Tea Party Fox ran an ad saying exactly that, except they used a CNN photo in the ad. Ooops.
Report Post »Murdoch‘s company’s have always been sneaky and slimey. Jumping from loving Thatcher to hating her and loving Blair. He is an opportunist who would just as happily endorse a commie if thought it would attract money.
SimpleTruths
Posted on July 7, 2011 at 3:12pmBlaze – fix your “reply” button. Comments made to someone in the ‘reply’ field wind up at the end of the entire comments thread. Shoddy code work there people.
Report Post »Chet Hempstead
Posted on July 8, 2011 at 4:35pmThey did fix it, sort off. They also changed the default order to newest to oldest instead of oldest to newest which seems to be confusing a lot of people. You can reorder it from oldest to newest,m but if you comment you have to do it again afterwards. It seems like I get a slightly different sequence every time I do it. Right now I see my first comment on this story at the top of the first page when I know for a fact that I wasn’t the first on this thread.
Report Post »encinom
Posted on July 7, 2011 at 2:20pm@VRW Conspirator
Report Post »Read other sources, this scandel has been going on for years. There are investigations and staff have been sentenced to jail already. The British PM and Parliment are calling for more investigations into all of the Murdoch empire (at least in Britian). There is proof of hush money being paid by Murdoch’s son and advertisers leaving. this is not about a rogue journalist (like the NYTimes) but a top to bottom corrupt organization. Murdoch is attmepting to save his hide not act out of some moral compass.
encinom
Posted on July 7, 2011 at 2:16pmcessna152
Posted on July 7, 2011 at 1:51pm
@encicom,
But it is OK that the government does this, unconstitutionally, right? Why are you OK with the government auditing your private business, knowing everything about you on tax forms and listening in on you phone, email and websites you visit?
Please explain how government doing this is any better. BTW, government could lock you up, take your home and throw you out on the streets… Murdoch can’t do that. So please explain why that is OK?
__________________________
Definition of a Straw Man Argument, you are unable to contend with my central point, about the corruption in Murdoch empire, so you create a boogey man.
As for goverment spying on citizens, I am opposed to any violation of the 4th Amendment, that was never an issue (taxes and tax returns are a seperate issue that you are confused about).
Report Post »Ronko
Posted on July 7, 2011 at 1:59pmI smell a dead fish, I think somebody hacked into that outlet so that it would make FNC look bad or anything else that Murdoch owned. Could it have been a bad apple in the company sure but this doesn’t feel right at all.
Report Post »UlyssesP
Posted on July 7, 2011 at 1:57pm“It’s a conspiracy! Dismantle the FOX empire before the truth comes out!…..”
What a bunch of carp. This is a business decision – damaged brand. You progressive lefties are too funny.
Report Post »The big bad FOX is gonna get’ya!! That‘s cause you’re all CHICKENS….brawk brawk!!
DesertRose1960
Posted on July 7, 2011 at 1:41pmThere are some 4000 people who were hacked. It sounds like News of the World was using a standard technique and got caught with their knickers down. Given how top-down and lock-step the Murdoch organizations are, do you suppose this practice is unique to the one paper? And why shut down a 168-year old institution? They shut it down as damage control. The victims can’t sue if the paper and its assets are gone. News of the World also covers American stories, do you think they treated us any differently? Lastly, remember that Fox has been caught repeating Republican party talking points on more than one occasion. This story isn’t going to go away, even if Fox refuses to cover it.
Report Post »ProudConservative1
Posted on July 7, 2011 at 1:31pmHang Tough, Rupert!
We NEED Fox News!
Report Post »Obama_Sham
Posted on July 7, 2011 at 1:23pm@Encinom
“Go beyond the Blaze and Fox News, which is providing a censored story and see how truly deep this rabbit hole is.”
Probably about as deep as Arianna Huffington’s hole…
Report Post »Cindy in CA
Posted on July 7, 2011 at 1:20pmWho is trying to take down FOX NEWS = George Soros
Report Post »VRW Conspirator
Posted on July 7, 2011 at 1:20pmWow…
first – way to go Rupert and son James…they owned up and are shutting down the paper…
second – Encinom – how short your memory is…wasn’t it the NY Times that had a report sued and eventually fired and investigate for possible criminal charges because he had MADE UP entire stories about being in combat in Iraq and Afghanistan, plagurized entire pieces, and had been doing so for nearly a decade?? even went on Oprah and talked about one of his books/stories then had to go on after and apologize…and she bought it and accepted it… Where was your call then that the NY Times was a unethical and should be shut down..?? HYPOCRITE!!
at least the Murdoch Family is ADMITTING and taking ACTION…the NY Times was forced to fire this guy after he was being investigated for possible criminal charges…
and after he was busted…didn’t another Times or Post report follow within months??
what about CBS and Dan Rather? even after it came out that the whole “Bush was AWOL” letter was proven false and the guy admitted it was faked…Danny boy still stood by the claims and eventually CBS had to let him and the producer in charge go…but neither of them EVER admitted they were wrong…. is there a bias at CBS? what about their ethics??
once again..the hypocracy of the left shows through…you are a joke of a person…devoid of morals and ethics and of no redeeming value to the human race
Report Post »patriotwoman
Posted on July 7, 2011 at 1:48pmDon‘t forget the made up video that NBC produced for it’s “GM trucks catch on fire” report. And everyone should Google search “Katie Couric plagiarism”.
Report Post »Chet Hempstead
Posted on July 8, 2011 at 4:46pmYou give the Murdochs much too much credit for integrity. This scandal has been going on since 2006 when their then royal editor was arrested . For five years they tried to pretend that was just an isolated incident, and only took action when the police had gathered enough evidence to start filing additional charges.
Report Post »Dustin75
Posted on July 8, 2011 at 5:50pmThe only reason the owned up to it was because they got caught. Murdock and his son be jailed along with the other lady.
Report Post »Morris
Posted on July 7, 2011 at 1:17pmMr.Murdoch Sir.
Thank You Sir for all that you have done in the past and all you will do in the future!
Fox News Station is the only station that tells the truth!
Thank You Again Sir,“WE THE PEOPLE”,NEED FOX NEWS NOW MORE THAN EVER!
God Bless You Sir,and God Bless FOX NEWS!!!!!
Report Post »SimpleTruths
Posted on July 7, 2011 at 3:06pmYou would have been loved on the plantation…’yes masser, thank you thank you thank you”.
Report Post »santramir
Posted on July 7, 2011 at 1:14pmdis-massmedia-idiotize yourself to be free again, see: http://www.realzionistnews.com/?p=523
Report Post »Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on July 7, 2011 at 1:13pmCutting off the rotten part of the fruit is what every news outlet should do. It seems that only the honest ones do it.
Report Post »encinom
Posted on July 7, 2011 at 1:12pmnysparkie
Report Post »Posted on July 7, 2011 at 12:47pm
@encinom
Posted on July 7, 2011 at 12:33pm
Where there is smoke, there is fire. Looks like the ethics leader Fox News is not so pure. How long before the truth about Fox comes out.
How do you juxtapose that there is something about FOX NEWS because of a looney hacker in England. Let alone it was PRINT MEDIA! If someone on there own did this for a story to the ignorance of his superiors, why blame the whole enchilada? If you get a pimple you don’t cut the whole chin off. I wouldn’t maybe you would. Mr. Murdoch is taking drastic action here. Shutting down the whole thing. We will see where this leads. It ain’t over yet.
____________________________________________________
Lets see, Murdoch son is caught play hush money, the scandel has reached the highest levels of the paper, this is not a rouge reporter, but the standard proceedure for the operation. Go beyond the Blaze and Fox News, which is providing a censored story and see how truly deep this rabbit hole is.
Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on July 7, 2011 at 1:31pm“Go beyond the Blaze and Fox News, which is providing a censored story and see how truly deep this rabbit hole is.”
Report Post »—————————————————————————-
Reading same story the Blaze put up, on other sources, including your MSNBC.
They are all saying the hacking was done by Mulcaire. No mention of any “caught play hush money” being paid or any rouge (rogue) reporters.
Sounds like your liberal hate and bias for all things conservative is showing again. Where were you earlier to defend Bill Clinton or defend the robbers of a lemonade stand? Did mommy just wake you up and tell you it time to go to work for Soros?
hauschild
Posted on July 7, 2011 at 1:08pmWhy would this surprise anyone, Murdoch included?
We’re simply reaping that progressives have sown for the past 100 years.
Report Post »Sound The Trumpet In Zion
Posted on July 7, 2011 at 1:05pm@nysparkie
Encinom is reacting normally based on how it works out with the liberal ragweed media. He has based his statement on proven fact that if anyone is able to get a little dirt on a liberal source that it is a guarantee that the top of the scavenger chain that is liberal media will be discovered to be directly at fault for whatever dirty event had taken place.
Report Post »SafeguardOurLiberty
Posted on July 7, 2011 at 1:00pmGood for Murdoch, and least he has some morals, unlike The New York Times, that print lies, or the liberal tv news stations that don’t report ALL the news, only what makes the liberals look good.
Report Post »nysparkie
Posted on July 7, 2011 at 12:47pm@encinom
Report Post »Posted on July 7, 2011 at 12:33pm
Where there is smoke, there is fire. Looks like the ethics leader Fox News is not so pure. How long before the truth about Fox comes out.
How do you juxtapose that there is something about FOX NEWS because of a looney hacker in England. Let alone it was PRINT MEDIA! If someone on there own did this for a story to the ignorance of his superiors, why blame the whole enchilada? If you get a pimple you don’t cut the whole chin off. I wouldn’t maybe you would. Mr. Murdoch is taking drastic action here. Shutting down the whole thing. We will see where this leads. It ain’t over yet.
saranda
Posted on July 7, 2011 at 12:42pmThank you Mr. Murdoch for shutting down this soulless newspaper. Now spend a little time looking at your other assets and do some pre emptive cutting before the truth about them comes out.
Report Post »nysparkie
Posted on July 7, 2011 at 12:41pmThat is not slanted for or by liberals – he says it should have read.
Report Post »nysparkie
Posted on July 7, 2011 at 12:40pmI know not enough of this to really comment. I only have to say i appreciate Mr. Murdoch for giving us another News Channel that isn’t way over there….waving his left arm out to the side. He has done for us, on the right of center, more than i could have expected 10 years ago. We have a way to get news that is slanted for liberals. We have a FAIR and BALANCE channel in which we can gather FACTS on a story. Thank you Mr. Murdoch. I wish you well with this incident.
Report Post »LiberialsRock255
Posted on July 7, 2011 at 12:48pmU dont know enough about it because the new sources you watch and read wont cover it
Report Post »DONTBESTUPID
Posted on July 7, 2011 at 1:37pmHmmm… I’m reading TheBlaze.com and they’re covering it.
Report Post »JRook
Posted on July 7, 2011 at 2:39pm@nysparkie Your statement the Fox is to the right of center is accurate but understated a bit. The notion that this means what Fox presents as news is FACTS is by your representation false. Everyone tuning into their choice of biased news channels is at the heart of the divisiveness in the US.
Report Post »encinom
Posted on July 7, 2011 at 12:33pmWhere there is smoke, there is fire. Looks like the ethics leader Fox News is not so pure. How long before the truth about Fox comes out.
Report Post »Buckaroo
Posted on July 7, 2011 at 12:58pmEr, the behavior by 1 Brit tabloid does not nec. match the behavior of the American cable network. nice try tho …
/eyeroll
Report Post »cessna152
Posted on July 7, 2011 at 1:51pm@encicom,
But it is OK that the government does this, unconstitutionally, right? Why are you OK with the government auditing your private business, knowing everything about you on tax forms and listening in on you phone, email and websites you visit?
Please explain how government doing this is any better. BTW, government could lock you up, take your home and throw you out on the streets… Murdoch can’t do that. So please explain why that is OK?
Report Post »Rumrunner3
Posted on July 7, 2011 at 2:36pmThat truth being what. They sure keep you visiting day after day. Where is your truth gauge when it comes to the rest of the media? So typical.
Report Post »PrfctlyFrank
Posted on July 7, 2011 at 12:30pmThere is no security once the electrons take over.. Resistance is futile.. Submit to the collective..
Report Post »HisStoryUn
Posted on July 7, 2011 at 1:37pmResistance is NOT futile – it’s voltage divided by current… ☺
Report Post »JRook
Posted on July 7, 2011 at 2:41pmSo we are supposed to believe another, “I was not aware of this practice” from the CEO. This is as lame as when the Enron guys were bailing. No doubt the “sacrificial lame” will be paid well to take the fall.
Report Post »