Cyber Incident Victim: Independent Like the North State Group Forum
Date:
May 2018
Location:
United States of America
Summary
During a live-streamed congressional debate hosted by the Independent Like the North State group, hackers disrupted the broadcast by replacing it with explicit pornographic content shortly after the event began. The intrusion occurred as the moderator began questioning candidates, affecting both the online stream and a local television station broadcast, with the unauthorized material visible for several seconds before being removed. The moderator acknowledged the breach as a recurring issue, condemning the act for disrespecting the democratic process and participants, while noting approximately 12 viewers were impacted during the incident.
| CIA Posture | Motives | Tactics, Techniques & Procedures |
|---|---|---|
| Available to members | 1 motive | 1 technique |
| Threat Actors | Type | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 0 actors | Available to members | Available to members |
Description
On May 17, 2018, during a live-streamed congressional debate for California’s First District hosted by the Independent Like the North State group, unknown hackers disrupted the broadcast by replacing the feed with explicit content. The debate featured candidates Lewis Elbinger of the Green Party and another individual identified as Lewis Elbinger of the Democratic Party, though this may reflect a reporting error. The incident occurred shortly after opening statements, coinciding with moderator Chris Verrill’s transition to candidate questions. Viewers accessing the stream online saw approximately several seconds of gay pornography before moderators terminated the compromised feed. The broadcast was simultaneously airing on local station KFOI, though it remains unclear whether the television transmission was similarly affected. Verrill acknowledged the intrusion audibly, stating, "Looks like we got hacked again, we’ll try to fix this," indicating possible prior disruptions. Only 12 online viewers were present during the defacement based on available metrics.
The hack interrupted a scheduled political event, undermining public access to electoral discourse. Verrill subsequently characterized the perpetrators as "pranksters" who disrespected the organization, candidates, democratic process, and community, though no technical attribution or motive was provided. Moderators swiftly contained the incident by taking the stream offline, restoring normal operations after the explicit content’s removal. No additional disruptions occurred during the remainder of the debate. The incident drew parallels to a September 2017 Orange County television hack where unidentified actors broadcast fabricated alien invasion warnings, though no direct connection between the events was established. Verrill emphasized community resilience, stating the North State would not let "a couple bad apples spoil the whole barrel," framing the intrusion as an isolated act rather than a systemic vulnerability. The limited online audience reduced immediate public exposure, but media coverage amplified awareness of the breach beyond live viewers.