Hacked site is no fun for park
DAVID COLE/[email protected] | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 10 years, 7 months AGO
COEUR d'ALENE - Perhaps Kim Jong Un mistook Silverwood for Hollywood.
Because as of Monday night, Silverwood Theme Park officials still had no idea who hacked their Facebook account. And from Saturday morning until late Monday they had no idea what would be posted next on their timeline.
"We have no idea who would do this or why," said Mark Robitaille, director of marketing and communications at the park in Athol. "It is unfortunate that someone would do this as there are numerous young people as well as loyal followers who have liked our page and view it regularly."
The page had 137,000 likes as of 5 p.m. Monday.
Some of Silverwood's followers quickly understood the account had been hacked, while others didn't.
"Really?? This is what shows up in my kid's news feed after friending Silverwood? Time to unfriend!" one man wrote under one of the sexual posts.
"TIRED OF THE SEXUAL POSTS!!" one follower thundered under a post about the "Worst Texts Ever From Neighbors - LMFAO!"
"Wish you would dismantle your site until this is under control," another person offered.
Silverwood officials are just hoping that followers and fans of the park understand that all administrative controls were lost.
"It appears we've finally regained control (hopefully)," Robitaille said at 5 p.m. Monday.
During the attack, park officials had been unable to do anything except ask for Facebook's help as posts to Silverwood's timeline ranged from bizarre to sexual to random and ridiculous.
A quick sampling of posts were headlined: "15 Horrible Methods Of Capital Punishment From Ancient Times," and "Badass Exotic Animals You Wish You Owned," and "Best Boob Tattoos," and "Nothing is like Sexy Girls in Thongs."
Robitaille said they were not able to determine whether any of the posts contained viruses.
"We followed a couple links to see where they'd go, but nothing indicated they had any viruses - just inappropriate content," he said.
Officials at the park also have no idea why Silverwood was targeted.
"Apparently Prince's Facebook was hacked (Saturday too)," he said. "But I can't imagine they're related."
Park employees filed numerous reports to Facebook each day.
"It's been a frustrating effort as we only initially received generic automated responses," Robitaille said. "We also filed trademarking infringement reports which they call intellectual property claims in hopes they get this person (or persons) to cease and desist."
Silverwood officials were concerned the original account might have to be deleted and they would have to then start from scratch with another one.
They created a second account at www.facebook.com/silverwoodthemepark, where they explained the situation they were working through.
"It is quite unfortunate as we have gained a significant amount of loyal followers based on worthwhile organic postings and engagement which took much effort," Robitaille said earlier in the day Monday. "Silverwood is committed to being family-friendly and is in no way associated with these posts."
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