Slovakia's hack attack

By Ray Furlong

A group of hackers in Slovakia has sabotaged the website of the main opposition party, the Movement for a Democratic Slovakia, in an attack which has given full vent to the Slovak sense of humour.

The website (before the attack)

Visitors to the website of the Movement for a Democratic Slovakia - led by former Prime Minister Vladimir Meciar - got quite a surprise as they found the name changed to the Movement for a Devastated Slovakia -- a wry comment on the party's record in power.

The hackers' attack was full of the sardonic wit employed by opponents of Vladimir Meciar when he was in office. As the nationalist leader was campaigning for re-election two years ago, one of his billboards bearing the slogan, "Vote with your heart", was complemented with the graffiti message: "If you don't have a brain."

Former Prime Minister Meciar

Now Mr Meciar's opponents are going high-tech. The Internet has yet to make much of an impact in Slovakia, where only a fraction of the population have access to it. One reason is the prohibitive cost - Slovakia has yet to privatise its fixed-line telecom operator or dismantle its monopoly, so prices are high.

For political parties, having a Web site is more a matter of prestige than anything else. But that backfired on Mr Meciar's, with pictures of leading party members given devils' horns and his party renamed the Movement for Drastic Feeblemindedness.