Threat actor

N33

The identity of a pro-government hacker has been reported in connection with account takeovers that occurred between 2011 and 2012 targeting Venezuelan journalists, writers, and activists. Public allegations regarding links to the government or SEBIN are considered mere accusations or assessments, not a confirmed attribution.

Incidents
7
High impact
0
First seen
Sep 2, 2011
Latest seen
Sep 2, 2011

Linked incidents

7 incidents
social media account takeover

N33 takes over Rocio San Miguel's Twitter account

In 2011, AP/CBS named Rocio San Miguel among Hugo Chavez’s critics whose accounts were hacked in incidents attributed to the N33 group. The exact date of the account takeover was not publicly disclosed, and the date of N33’s statement is used as a reference.

Rocio San Miguel
social media account takeover

N33 takes over journalist Berenice Gomez’s Twitter account

In 2011, CPJ and Americas Quarterly identified Berenice Gomez as one of the victims of account hijackings attributed to the N33 group. The exact date of the account hijacking was not publicly established, and the date of the N33 statement is used as a reference.

Berenice Gomez
social media account takeover

N33 takes over journalist Ibeyise Pacheco’s Twitter account

In 2011, the pro-government group N33 was reported to be among those responsible for hijacking Twitter accounts belonging to Venezuelan journalists and opposition figures. CPJ and Americas Quarterly list Ibeyise Pacheco among the victims. The individual record retains the victim’s name; the exact date the account was taken over was not publicly established, and the date of the N33 statement is used as the reference date.

Ibeyise Pacheco
social media account takeover

N33 takes over writer Leonardo Padron’s Twitter account

In 2011, the N33 group was reported to have hijacked Twitter accounts belonging to figures critical of Chavismo. CPJ, Americas Quarterly, and AP/CBS named Leonardo Padron among the victims. The exact date the account was taken over was not publicly established, and the date of the N33 statement is used as a reference.

Leonardo Padron
social media account takeover

N33 takes over journalist Luis Carlos Diaz’s Twitter account

In 2011–2012, CPJ and Americas Quarterly identified Luis Carlos Diaz as one of the victims of account hijackings or digital attacks attributed to N33. The exact date of the account takeover was not publicly disclosed, and the date of N33’s statement is used as a reference.

Luis Carlos Diaz
social media account takeover

N33 takes over journalist Nelson Bocaranda’s Twitter account

In 2011, CPJ and Americas Quarterly named Nelson Bocaranda among the victims of account hijackings attributed to the N33 group. The exact date of the account hijacking was not publicly established, and the date of the N33 statement is used as a reference.

Nelson Bocaranda
social media account takeover campaign

Campaign No. 33: Hijacking of Accounts Belonging to Venezuelan Journalists and Opposition Figures (2011–2012)

Since September 2011, the pro-government group N33 has claimed responsibility for hijacking Twitter accounts and email accounts belonging to journalists, writers, activists, and opposition figures critical of Hugo Chávez. Espacio Público documented about 30 cases in 2011 and at least 14 additional cases by mid-2012. This record is maintained as a summary of the campaign because there are more victims than those named in sufficient detail; the victims named in public sources were listed in individual records. The alleged operation, carried out from SEBIN headquarters or through state connections, is presented as an allegation or assessment based on sources, not as a confirmed forensic finding.

Periodistas y opositores venezolanos (Ibéyise Pacheco, Leonardo Padrón, Nelson Bocaranda, Berenice Gómez y otros)