Prosecutors have launched an investigation into an alleged hacker attack against the websites of Next Media that has disrupted the services for hours at a time over the past two days.

According to the Shilin District Prosecutors Office, those responsible for the attacks may have committed an offense against computer security, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison.

Hong Kong-based Next Media, which publishes the Apple Daily newspaper and Next magazine in Hong Kong and Taiwan, said its websites were attacked early Wednesday and that web services were not fully resumed by late evening.

Connections to the Apple Daily website were off and on yesterday.

The media group believes the attacks have been launched by Chinese hackers to suppress Hong Kong residents’ fight for democracy.

 

More in related news:

Line App Urges Password Changes as Japan Probes Hacking The Economic Times June 19, 2014

Cyberattackers Brought Down Apple Daily Website with 40 Million Hits Every Second South China Morning Post June 20, 2014