When viewers visited Cartoon Network websites to watch their favorite children's shows over the weekend, they found an unfamiliar face greeting them: Ricardo Milos, the famous Brazilian male stripper.
Milos's appearance on the site was the work of two hackers from Brazil.
By taking advantage of "a vulnerability in Cartoon Network's website management platform," they were able to replace cartoons with videos of Milos in 16 different regions, including:
"Brazil, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Mexico, the Middle East and Africa (MENA), the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Russia, Turkey and the UK"
About 6+ hours ago someone hacked most of the Cartoon Network websites (by language) and replaced them with random… https://t.co/uh29tvyvx1— Flor Geneva (G+ Survivor) (@Flor Geneva (G+ Survivor)) 1556440990.0
As the network attempts to remove Milos from their websites, some have taken their video players offline and others have been taken down completely.
Cartoon Network UK issued a short statement acknowledging their work on the "issue."
To all our wonderful Cartoon Network fans, we’re aware of the current issue with our website and are currently look… https://t.co/IwASWlrLt7— Cartoon Network UK (@Cartoon Network UK) 1556461326.0
@CNUKTweets Keep it.— +ItsDATBag (@+ItsDATBag) 1556465477.0
Ricardo Milos has become well known in meme-culture for his signature stripping attire: a red bandana around his head and an American flag thong.
His "unique style" has given him a certain amount of internet fame, apparently prompting the star treatment from two hacker fans.
Apparently this Cartoon Network hack has been going on for at least 7 hours now. Thank you to whoever did this. https://t.co/jqqYXPKYoj— sopa de macaco (@sopa de macaco) 1556422002.0
So since the hack, Europeans Cartoon Network websites are just redirecting to Boomerang lmao https://t.co/KcqqHgleRz— Kody (André F.) (@Kody (André F.)) 1557179475.0
Twitter had their fair share of laughs at Cartoon Network's expense:
Well done Brazilian hackers well done #CartoonNetwork #cartoonnetworkhack https://t.co/yzvUe5HYUL— Madam Ellie❄ (@Madam Ellie❄) 1556756416.0
@RobbieTehRotte1 I find the hack funny but at the same time kinda shocked that was a total embarrassment to Cartoon Network international— Haruhipunny (@Haruhipunny) 1556551722.0
The entire #CartoonNetwork hack in a nutshell. https://t.co/Q8qHw5Geh7— Bits (@Bits) 1556430896.0
hi @cartoonnetwork some bad news your website got hack and then the video is now a memes— Leon (@Leon) 1557060260.0
Others felt the hackers went too far, considering how many children visit Cartoon Network's websites.
Hack what you want but I say kids stuff should be off limits. https://t.co/RrhNoP4EQB— Michael Moro (@Michael Moro) 1557147676.0
Bruh if the point of the Cartoon Network hack was to prove how vulnerable the website was, they could have used a b… https://t.co/QUtY60Vzps— Shells (@Shells) 1556640999.0
So people are treating a recent hack on some international Cartoon Network websites like it’s the funniest thing in… https://t.co/xd6iTaE8rt— Captain B. Z. (@Captain B. Z.) 1556482964.0
Though website hackings are often politically or personally motivated in some way, no apparent motivation from the two Brazillian hackers has been forthcoming.
It seems possible the pair were simply in it "for the LOLs."
Why would anyone hack Cartoon Network?!? https://t.co/yywV47j6tE— Patrick Chambers (@Patrick Chambers) 1556933530.0
This isn't the first time hackers have gained access to large websites for relatively petty reasons.
Not so long ago, fans of the gamer PewDiePie "infiltrated a Wall Street Journal webpage" to promote him after the magazine labelled some of his comments as "anti-semitic."
Good morning. Explaining to my parents what a PewDiePie is and why someone would hack the Wall Street Journal on hi… https://t.co/jNHLCK0jhD— Brock Wilbur (feat. Brendon Urie of Panic! At The (@Brock Wilbur (feat. Brendon Urie of Panic! At The) 1545073064.0
Also, in April, hackers took the Weather Channel off the air for no apparent reason.
Did you miss it? Some attacked The Weather Channel's live transmission with a #ransomware attack. https://t.co/nHCIw4N6wf— HackRead.com (@HackRead.com) 1556960102.0
Networks around the world had better watch out! Computers are integral to how we run our businesses, and there are malicious hackers ready to force their way into them if we're not careful.