Hackers Target Gawker Media's Websites

Wired reports that one or more hackers managed to infiltrate Gawker's content management system, user database and internal communications system, stealing the gossip site's source code, commenter and staff passwords, and internal conversations between the company's employees.

Operating under the name "Gnosis," the hackers said that they have compromised the e-mail addresses and passwords of hundreds of thousands of Gawker users. In a blog post, the site admits:

Our user databases appear to have been compromised. The passwords were encrypted. But simple ones may be vulnerable to a brute-force attack ... We're deeply embarrassed by this breach.

A number of websites are affected by the hack, according to PCWorld.com, including Lifehacker, Gizmodo, Gawker, Jezebel, io9, Jalopnik, Kotaku, Deadspin and Fleshbot.