MTV Cries 'Hacked!'http://web.archive.org/web/20010719135551/www.wired.com/news/...1 of 21/13/07 6:16 PM

MTV Cries 'Hacked!'

byArik Hesseldahl

2:15 p.m. Sep. 9, 1998 PDT

Viewers of MTV's Web site were greeted Monday with what appeared to be the work of a hacker.The words "JF was here" appeared as spray-painted graffiti on the site's MTV logo. To the site's viewers whofollow the hacker underground, the initials have special meaning. They are used by a British hacker andformer member of the "milw0rm" hacking gang that claimed responsibility for defacing the Web site of anIndian nuclear weapons research facility over the summer.Throughout the day, John Vranesevich, founder of AntiOnline, a hacking news Web site, received hundredsof email messages asking if JF was behind the hack. Finally, JF himself contacted Vranesevich, insisting hehad nothing to do with any hack of MTV."To MTV, all I have to say is I have enough problems of my own without you pinning things on me," JF toldVranesevich. JF is thought to be under investigation by Scotland Yard for the Indian hack and otherincidents.MTV has since confirmed the frontdoor doctoring was a publicity stunt made to look like a real hack. Theymeant it to introduce Johnny Fame, who'll cover the MTV Video Music Awards exclusively for the Web site asa sort of third-party commentator. MTV will broadcast the awards show live from Los Angeles Thursdaynight."Johnny is a new character who will be out in LA with a camera," said MTV spokeswoman Caroline Mockridge."He will be going backstage with the celebrities; he'll be going to the parties. We wanted to introduce him toour online audience in a dramatic and media-appropriate way."Incidentally, MTV is not the first media group to stage such a non-event. Last year,

The Lost World

moviesite suffered asimilarfake defacing.Fame is already filing dispatches for MTV Online from Los Angeles, where rehearsals for the awards show areunderway, Mockridge said."Here's my deal. Did you see what I pulled off on MTV.com? Cool huh? Now they claim they like my style andwant to give me space on their page for MY stuff," Fame writes on hishomepage.But the incident has many in the hacker underground upset with how the apparent hack has beenportrayed."MTV is a beacon for popular culture," Vranesevich said. "They dictate fashion that teens wear and the musicthey listen to. I think this shameless publicity stunt turns hacking a Web site into a game. Something thatis fun and amusing and not a very big deal."Fame is being billed as a renegade hacker from New Jersey, who, having hacked the MTV site, is asked towork for the network's Web site.A disclaimer of sorts linked from the front page of MTV Online explains its recent "technical difficulties"related to Fame: "Johnny Fame will be living within MTV Online for an undetermined amount of time. Thecontent within does not represent the views of MTV or Viacom, nor do we endorse its existence."The statement says that Fame is not to go beyond the confines of a certain area within MTV Online. "If thereare any further unsanctioned ventures into the MTV.com area ... all possible legal action will be pursued tothe fullest extent of the law against JF, aka Johnny Fame," the statement says.As of Wednesday afternoon, two?short video clips of Fame have appeared. In the first, Fame introduceshimself by pasting his name on a star along Hollywood's Walk of Fame. In the second, he searches for CarsonDaly, who never shows up for an appointment.