4chan Users Claim to Have Hacked Hillary Clinton Campaign Chairman John Podesta's iPhone, iPad

Advertisement
By Ravi Sharma | Updated: 15 October 2016 04:47 IST
Highlights
  • 4chan hackers found John Podesta's password in WikiLeaks email dump
  • WikiLeaks, however, says it had changed password before releasing emails
  • Podesta's Twitter account had been hacked earlier as well

Hackers on a 4chan message board claim to have wiped the iPhone and iPad of Hillary Clinton’s campaign chairman John Podesta. The hackers got access to Podesta’s Apple devices within 12 hours of WikiLeaks releasing private emails from his accounts on Wednesday, which apparently included his Apple ID credentials as well as his Social Security number.
 

 

 

Advertisement

 

 

Before erasing the iPhone and iPad, 4chan users on a Reddit thread claim that they downloaded the data from Podesta’s email account. Talking to Gizmodo, a representative of the hackers said that information in the Podesta leaks was “helpful in conducting phishing attacks for the DNC members before the leaks emerged on Wikileaks.”

Advertisement

The hacker was able to get access the passwords of several dozen senators’ email IDs, credit card information, as well Social Security numbers. The list includes the likes of US Vice President Joe Biden, acting chair of Democratic National Party (DNC) Donna Brazile, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi.
 
However, WikiLeaks on its Twitter handle said that it had changed the relevant credentials before releasing the email dump. Regardless of the veracity of the claim, it appears Podesta did not change his credentials including his Apple ID, despite his emails having been released to the public.

Advertisement

 

 

The screenshots show that Podesta had not enabled two-factor verification – an added layer of security – on his Apple ID.
 
Soon after the WikiLeaks dump, Podesta’s Twitter account was hacked and a tweet asking followers to vote for Clinton’s rival Donald Trump was sent out. The tweet was deleted later. The Clinton campaign has confirmed the hacked Twitter account, but has not said anything about the wiped iPhone and iPad.

 

Get your daily dose of tech news, reviews, and insights, in under 80 characters on Gadgets 360 Turbo. Connect with fellow tech lovers on our Forum. Follow us on X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads and Google News for instant updates. Catch all the action on our YouTube channel.

Advertisement

Related Stories

Popular Mobile Brands
  1. These OnePlus Smartphones Could Receive the ColorOS 17 Update in India
  2. Redmi Note 17 Pro Max Listed on NBTC Website Ahead of Imminent Launch
  3. Tecno Camon 50 Ultra 5G Sale Begins in India Today
  4. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra Could Cost More Than Expected, Listing Suggests
  5. Dell Alienware 16X Aurora Launched in India Alongside Alienware Area-51 Series
  6. One UI 9 Beta Improves Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra's Privacy Display Feature
  1. Offline UPI Payments With NFC Support Could Launch in India Soon
  2. Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra's Privacy Display Feature Gets a Major Upgrade in One UI 9 Beta
  3. OnePlus N6x Design, Colour Options Teased in New Marketing Material Ahead of Imminent Launch in India
  4. OnePlus 11, Nord 4, and Newer Models Tipped to Receive the Android 17-Based ColorOS 17 Update in India
  5. Redmi Note 17 Pro Max Appears on Thailand's NBTC Certification Database, Might Launch Soon
  6. Apple’s First Foldable iPhone Reportedly Appears in iOS 27 Beta Code With a Multi-Battery Setup
  7. X for Android App Undergoes Major Design Overhaul, Enhanced Performance and Reliability
  8. Samsung Galaxy Buds Able to Reportedly Skip Galaxy Unpacked Launch; Could Debut in October
  9. Dell Alienware 16X Aurora, Alienware 16 Area-51 and Alienware 18 Area-51 Launched in India: Price, Specifications
  10. Samsung Galaxy A55, Galaxy A35 One UI 9 Test Builds Reportedly Spotted Ahead of Android 17 Rollout
Download Our Apps
Available in Hindi
© Copyright Red Pixels Ventures Limited 2026. All rights reserved.