PBS networks hacked by group supporting WikiLeaks

Hackers broke into the computer networks of US broadcaster PBS over the weekend and defaced its Newshour web site.

The hackers posted a fake story on the site claiming that rapper Tupac Shakur is still alive in New Zealand, when he was actually murdered 15 years ago.

The hackers also posted log-in information that stations use to access PBS sites, as well as the email addresses and passwords of people from a number of different news organisations.

A Twitter account called LulzSec has claimed responsibility for the hack, and has indicated that it is somehow aligned with WikiLeaks.

“Glad you liked our Tupac story,” LulzSec said to WikiLeaks on Twitter. “You keep f***ing s**t up and so will we. We hope our hacking gave Bradley Manning a smile. That man deserves something nice.”

Manning stands accused of leaking the 'Collateral Murder' video to WikiLeaks.

The group hacked into the PBS web site after Newshour aired a documentary about WikiLeaks. The web site now appears to be running normally.

The attack on PBS closely follows the hacking of Lockheed Martin’s servers at the end of last week.