NZ websites under attack as holidays prove prime time for hackers

A number of New Zealand websites had been defaced by hackers who stripped webpages of their original text to replace it with their own stamp. Photo / Thinkstock

Tech-savvy teenagers are scratching an anti-establishment itch over summer holidays with a rash of hack attacks on websites, says an internet security expert.

Daniel Ayers said a number of New Zealand websites had been defaced by hackers who stripped webpages of their original text to replace it with their own stamp.

Those hacked included the Cricket Wellington website and the Christchurch Star newspaper, along with lawyers, a school and a tech company which offered IT security services, he said.

The Herald also tracked through hacking monitoring sites the defacement of sites for a children's dance studio, a Thai restaurant, a provincial physiotherapist and a property management company.

Mr Ayers, who runs security company Elementary Solutions, said there was a seasonal increase in hacking which he believed tied in with time off for young people. "A lot of young people have very good IT skills."

Cricket Wellington chief executive Peter Clinton confirmed the hack and said the club's website was down for a couple of hours. He said no information was taken from the site, which did not hold confidential or personal information.

Mr Clinton said the club used a reputable web hosting service which notified it if there was a hack attack, quickly took down anything posted online during an intrusion and organised a check to make sure no malicious software had been left.