LulzSec hacks UK newspaper: Rupert Murdoch announced dead

British tabloid The Sun announced on their website that Rupert Murdoch had been found dead. LulzSec has claimed responsibility for the hack.

Hacking group LulzSec has come out of early retirement to attack media mogul Rupert Murdoch. Chief Executive of News Corporation, the powerful Australian businessman is currently entangled in a phone hacking scandal in the United Kingdom which has led to the News of the World tabloid being shut down.

Rupert Murdoch is today also expected before the British parliament. This will be an impressive effort for Rupert Murdoch to be present… especially since the 80 year old recently passed away. This is what the The Sun announced on their web site, with this tabloid also belonging to the Murdoch empire.

The news was false though, with the computer attack being conducted by LulzSec for some fun. The hacking group recently announced that they would be ending their activities, although some of their members joined Anonymous to participate in their AntiSec operation.

During the evening between Monday and Tuesday (UK time), internet users who viewed The Sun’s website had the surprise of seeing a welcome page announcing that Rupert Murdoch’s body had been found in his garden after taking an overdose of palladium. Later, internet users were redirected to LulzSec’s Twitter account.

Via Twitter, LulzSec indicated that they had taken control of The Sun/News of the World:  "this is just phase 1 – wait and see what Lulz will be unveiling in the coming days (note: lulz is derived from lol)".

The Sun’s website has now returned to normal. TechCrunch published a screen shot (see above) of Rupert Murdoch’s fake death announcement. It does have to be wondered though if LulzSec did a little more than just deface The Sun.