The Twitter #Hashtag Hijacker

Posted by Garrett Pierson in June 4th, 2009

Posted in: Social Media, Social Networking, Twitter Tags: Exploit, hashtag, Social Media, Spammer, Twitter

Trending Topics

In the Twitter world there is a recently new feature on the side of the Twitter interface which shows what are the Top Trending topics currently on Twitter.

The trending topics can range from current T.V shows on right now, breaking news stories, viral posts and #Hashtags.

When you click on the Trend on the right hand side of your screen. Twitter Search will bring up all the live results for that Keyword or #Hashtag. Many people do click on the Trending Topics often just to eavesdrop on whats going on with the latest gossip and events.

Exposure

Having a Trending Topic for your blog or brand is very lucrative to your business. It provides high exposure and viral content.

With this exposure can also come with the exploiters and spammers. If you think about it, many people are tracking and listening to the Trending Topics and clicking on the links.

A spammer or exploiter will “Mask” a Trending Topic Tweet and insert a non-relevant url that will either go to the spammer’s website or some other website that is deceiving. Thus Hijacking the Trending Topic.

Below is an example of the “Twitter Hijacker” are you one?

#Fullservice Hashtag Hijack

One of the Trending Topics of the day is #Fullservice which represents the New Kids On The Block music tour called Fullservice.

Now clicking ont he Trending Topic will show some of the exploiters taking advantage of the exposure

Promoting your website that has nothing to do with the trending topic

Promoting a personal youtube video that has nothing to do with the trending topic

The infamous porno spammers

The same spammer is back with her old tricks

Another Spammer using the trending topic to promote a non-relevant website

Another porn spammer

As you can see people will take advantage of the Trending Topics to hijack to their own website promotion.

Just like in my last post I wrote about being a Twitter Re-Tweet Thief……. Don’t be a Twitter Hijacker

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JustinSMV (Justin Williams) Said in June 4th, 2009 @11:27 pm

Twitter Comment

The Twitter #Hashtag Hijacker [link to post] (#Exploit)

– Posted using Chat Catcher

Brandylele (Brandy Lee) Said in June 5th, 2009 @3:23 am

Twitter Comment

The Twitter #Hashtag Hijacker | Social Media Vision [link to post]

– Posted using Chat Catcher

fridenstrom (Johannes Fridenström) Said in June 5th, 2009 @4:32 am

Twitter Comment

RT @rdcom2000: The Twitter #Hashtag Hijacker | Social Media Vision [link to post]

– Posted using Chat Catcher

JustinLoans (Justin Williams) Said in June 5th, 2009 @9:54 am

Twitter Comment

The Twitter #Hashtag Hijacker [link to post]

– Posted using Chat Catcher

QDax (QDax) Said in June 5th, 2009 @10:45 am

Twitter Comment

LMAO!!! #fullservice trending topic mention in article!..YAY!… [link to post]

– Posted using Chat Catcher

nikkibop (Nicole Grady) Said in June 5th, 2009 @10:49 am

Twitter Comment

RT @Frannie726 RTRT @QDax LMAO!!! #fullservice trending topic mention in article!..YAY!… [link to post] < -- #FULLSERVICE Indeed!!

– Posted using Chat Catcher

Frannie726 (Frannie726) Said in June 5th, 2009 @11:06 am

Twitter Comment

RT @QDax QDaxLMAO!!! #fullservice trending topic mention in article!..YAY!… [link to post]

– Posted using Chat Catcher

Frannie726 (Frannie726) Said in June 5th, 2009 @11:07 am

Twitter Comment

RT @QDax LMAO!!! #fullservice trending topic mention in article!..YAY!… [link to post]

– Posted using Chat Catcher

YayMe17 (YayMe!) Said in June 5th, 2009 @11:08 am

Twitter Comment

@inkybear00 your tweet is shown in this article. cool [link to post]

– Posted using Chat Catcher

MillerMosaicLLC (Yael K. Miller) Said in June 5th, 2009 @11:35 am

Twitter Comment

From the man who brought you “The ReTweet Thief” comes “The #Hashtag Hijacker” [link to post] via @JustinSMV

– Posted using Chat Catcher

ToddySM

Said in June 5th, 2009 @12:00 pm

To be honest I have never used trending topics functionality. Most of the cases they are either not understandable for me (like acronyms, strange words etc.), target celebrities or just full of spam as you point out. You can call me antisocial because I don’t follow those but I prefer to search for topics I am really interested in.

JustinSMV (Justin Williams) Said in June 5th, 2009 @12:05 pm

Twitter Comment

Sorry, Re-uploaded the image for my new blog post. Should be working now. The Twitter #Hashtag Hijacker [link to post]

– Posted using Chat Catcher

Jim Reppond

Said in June 7th, 2009 @11:18 am

At least with TinyURL you can set your preferences to preview the masked URL before being redirected.

Jim Reppond’s last blog post..It’s Official – I’m Certified!

Yael K. Miller

Said in June 7th, 2009 @4:24 pm

I almost never click on the trending topics. They’re the side of Twitter that is celebrity and media driven. Still asshat spammers will do what asshat spammers will do.

I like your #Hashtag Hijacker image, although I think your ReTweet Thief image was better.

Kevin Sablan Said in June 15th, 2009 @1:38 pm

I became aware of this problem this morning and tried to get in touch with the people at Cli.gs. I just got off the phone with Pierre Far, the creator of the URL shortening service, and will post what I know shortly. For now, you can get an update about the attack on this Cli.gs blog post: Cligs Got Hacked – Restoration from Backup Started.

This comment was originally posted on http://lansner.freedomblogging.com/)“>Lansner on Real Estate

Kevin Sablan Said in June 15th, 2009 @1:38 pm

This comment was originally posted on http://lansner.freedomblogging.com/)“>Lansner on Real Estate

Kevin Sablan Said in June 17th, 2009 @12:07 am

Hey Todd, have your affected URLs been restored yet? Cligs teld me that the restoration should be complete by the end of the week, when they’ll be switching to a largely overhauled system.

This comment was originally posted on http://lansner.freedomblogging.com/)“>Lansner on Real Estate

BJ Said in June 18th, 2009 @3:31 pm

I am clicking on Hellmann’s Mayonaise and this is the screen I am getting !!

This comment was originally posted on http://lansner.freedomblogging.com/)“>Lansner on Real Estate

Kevin Sablan Said in June 18th, 2009 @5:23 pm

Hopefully, the links that you followed to this post will be fixed over the weekend, when the people at Cligs anticipate moving over to new servers.

There is a new post on the Cligs blog, saying that the restoration is “going very smoothly.”

The link at the top of this post points to another post that explains what happened. Short version: Cligs was hacked and 2.2 million URLs were changed to point to the post you are reading now.

This comment was originally posted on http://lansner.freedomblogging.com/)“>Lansner on Real Estate

LAURA Said in June 19th, 2009 @12:29 pm

I HAVE NO IDEA WHATS GOING ON BUT I`M CLICKING ON “QUAKERS OATMEAL CEREAL COUPONS” AND I KEEP GETTING DIRECTED TO THIS SITE. CAN ANYONE TELL ME HOW TO GET TO MY COUPONS?

This comment was originally posted on http://lansner.freedomblogging.com/)“>Lansner on Real Estate

Kelly Said in June 21st, 2009 @9:41 am

Yes, I clicked on alot of icons to get some coupons and it comes straight to this site.

This comment was originally posted on http://lansner.freedomblogging.com/)“>Lansner on Real Estate

Idiots Said in June 21st, 2009 @11:19 am

Seems like Cli.gs can’t control their security.

I’ve asked for my account to be removed immediately, I don’t want to be using a site that has such weak security as this.

This comment was originally posted on http://lansner.freedomblogging.com/)“>Lansner on Real Estate

WiZ Said in June 21st, 2009 @12:56 pm

Has anyone considered the legal implications of this situation?

This comment was originally posted on http://lansner.freedomblogging.com/)“>Lansner on Real Estate

Connie Said in June 21st, 2009 @4:02 pm