Riverhead Vet Staff Speaks Out On Website Hacking By Islam Extremists

A staffer at a Riverhead veterinary hospital hacked earlier this week by Islam extremists has opened up about the experience.

On Tuesday, both the East End Veterinary Emergency & Specialty Center in Riverhead  and the Sag Harbor village website were hacked; the Facebook page of Fahd Al Murar, whose name on the page is KJ-FIDO, allegedly claimed responsibility for sending a message on the vet's website, pet-er.com.

“The website is down by web-soldiers team from Islamic Electronic Army (Alqaeda Army),” the webpage read. "Freedom to all Muslims everywhere.”

"Our website, among others on the East End, was hacked on Tuesday," Leora B. Vatash, East End Veterinary Emergency & Specialty Center administrator, wrote Patch in an email Thursday. "We have found the hacked files, removed them and locked the site down instantly, to prevent further intrusions. We have a full backup of everything on the site and, at no time, was any personal data compromised."

Vatash said the belief is that the hacker was able to force his way in through an old admin account that has since been removed. 

"All passwords were changed throughout the web server and the police are involved to find an origin," she said.

"Once we found out, it was addressed and we were told that there is no reason to be alarmed. We are open 24/7 for emergencies and our specialty departments operate regularly, with no interruptions," Vatash added.