Cyber Incident Victim: Fort Bragg
Date:
Oct 2020
Location:
United States of America
Summary
The official Twitter account of a U.S. military installation was compromised, leading to unauthorized posts containing sexually explicit content and lewd commentary directed at another user's content. The account temporarily appeared deleted before being restored by administrators, who confirmed it was hacked and not operated by authorized personnel. Following the incident, the organization reset account credentials and two-factor authentication protocols while initiating a criminal investigation. A public apology was issued to followers for the offensive material, which was promptly removed from the platform.
| 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 October 21, 2020, at approximately 4:30 PM ET, the official Twitter account of Fort Bragg (@FtBraggNC) was compromised by an unauthorized actor who posted sexually explicit content targeting another user. The hacker engaged with tweets from @Quinnfinite10, a user discussing pubic hair visibility on her OnlyFans page, replying with messages endorsing her choices while mocking critics. One response stated, "He's lost and doesn't know a good thing when it's staring him in the eyes or tickling his nose in this case." The attacker further commented on a topless photo from the same user with a graphic sexual remark: "My face's, then my boner's and then my face's again before I come up to give you a deep long kiss." These interactions drew immediate public attention, with one observer sarcastically noting, "Doesn't surprise me that military bases out here advocating for pro Bush stances." The account was swiftly deactivated following the incident.
The 18th Airborne Corps, overseeing Fort Bragg, confirmed the breach via Twitter, clarifying the posts were not authorized by account administrators. Fort Bragg spokesperson Tom McCollum disclosed that the Army Criminal Investigation Division had launched a probe into the security lapse. Remedial actions included deleting the offensive tweets, resetting account passwords, and reestablishing two-factor authentication. McCollum publicly apologized to followers, acknowledging uncertainty about the breach's origin. The incident disrupted official communications and risked reputational harm to the base, as the hacker’s actions misrepresented the institution’s public voice. No further details regarding the attacker’s identity or methodology were disclosed in initial reports.