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.

 

For the latest tech news and reviews, follow Gadgets 360 on X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads and Google News. For the latest videos on gadgets and tech, subscribe to our YouTube channel. If you want to know everything about top influencers, follow our in-house Who'sThat360 on Instagram and YouTube.

Advertisement

Related Stories

Popular Mobile Brands
  1. Vivo Y31 Series With 6,500mAh Battery Launched in India: See Price
  2. Samsung Begins Rolling Out One UI 8 Update to the Galaxy S25 Series
  3. [Exclusive] Noise to Launch Flagship Master Series Over-Ear Headphones Soon
  4. Nothing Announces Offers on Phones, Wearables During Flipkart Sale
  5. Flipkart Big Billion Days Sale: Discounts on Motorola Phones Announced
  6. iOS 26 Released Alongside iPadOS 26, macOS Tahoe: Here's How to Download It
  7. iPhone 18 Series to Feature a Smaller Dynamic Island, Tipster Claims
  8. Xiaomi 17 Pro Max Tipped to Come With a Secondary Display
  9. OnePlus 15 Leaked Image Reveals Colourways, Redesigned Camera Module
  10. Oppo F31 Series Launched With 7,000mAh Battery: Check Price, Features
  1. iOS 26 Update Released Alongside iPadOS 26 and macOS Tahoe: Check Eligible Models, How to Download
  2. Scientists Propose Space Missions to Chase Down Interstellar Comets
  3. Iceland Plume Discovery Reveals Ancient Volcanic Funnels Across North Atlantic
  4. Huawei Watch Ultimate 2 Design Renders Leaked, Could Launch Soon
  5. Marvel's Wolverine Will Reportedly Launch in 2026; Insomniac's Venom Game in 'Active Development'
  6. US President Donald Trump Challenges Block on Removing US Fed’s Lisa Cook
  7. iPhone 17 Series Outpaces iPhone 16 in Demand While iPhone 17 Pro Max Tops Pre-Orders, Analyst Says
  8. iPhone 16 Remained Top Selling Smartphone For Second Consecutive Quarter Globally: Report
  9. Samsung Galaxy S25 FE Launched in India With 6.7-Inch AMOLED Screen, 50-Megapixel Camera: Price, Features
  10. iPhone 18 Series Tipped to Feature Smaller Dynamic Island, Might Launch Without Under-Display Face ID
Gadgets 360 is available in
Download Our Apps
Available in Hindi
© Copyright Red Pixels Ventures Limited 2025. All rights reserved.