Hackers might be able to block tweets

I'm not certain, but I suspect that hackers block tweets by retweeting, @mentioning or by following your account.  Even though I'm supposed to be notified when someone follows me, sometimes I don't get an email now so I have to manually check. For example, I never got an email when TheYoungTurks followed me briefly the other day (I publicly asked them to unfollow since I wouldn't follow them back even if there was no hacking going on).  This might have to do with amount of users; perhaps the more you have the stronger you become.

Hackers are targeting journalists and appear to be posting fake stories on their blogs and websites after taking over people's twitter or facebook or email accounts by getting people to click on links (that must contain some kind of virus).

I'm going to post what I can currently see on Patterico's account...and later today I'll post some tweets from my account (I changed my avatar yesterday but I notice old posts are being updated with the new pic, but many old tweets still show my older avatar).

In my opinion, the Patterico tweets that stand out are the conversations with Lee Stranahan.  Patterico recently froze out Lee from posting articles at his blog after he busted him using his name to leave a sock puppet comment in one of his threads. "Incidentally, I have not 'banned' him but simply disabled his account to 'no role on this blog,'" Patterico wrote. See this post for more: www.patterico.com/2011/07/02/on-not-making-assumptions

Early on July 7, @Patterico tweeted "Lie on, Macduff. Over and out" to Lee Stranahan, but then on July 9 he uncharacteristically badmouthed a Massachusetts police detective www.twitter.com/Patterico/status/89561793646698496  who is reportedly investigating alleged death threats directed at a woman in Boston.  I was told by two different sources that the threats are real, but Lee Stranahan has conspiracy theorized (almost definitely, deliberately confusing the narrative, as all the hacker socks keep doing) that they're fake or that the victim was falsely blaming him for threats.

Then on July 11, Patterico begins talking to Lee again as if there had never been any friction at all between them over the last few weeks.

I've been banning and reporting for spam every time an obvious bot sock attaches to my account...and it seems to work.  I've also stopped using Twitter direct messages completely and suggest everyone do the same (now and forever, in my opinion, since it's untrustworthy and easily hackable, it appears).

Patterico Patterico

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@ronbryn As someone who claims to be a longtime reader of mine, what are your favorite posts or series I have done and why? Be specific!

14 Jul

Patterico Patterico

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@ronbryn As a fan of yours for years, I am concerned someone hacked your account to make you sound manic and paranoid. /ronbryn

14 Jul

Patterico Patterico

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@ronbryn The Scyphers Murder, huh?

14 Jul

Patterico Patterico

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@ronbryn I had some good ones, didn't I? Here's another: Paranoia in My Pants.

13 Jul

Patterico Patterico

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@ronbryn When you threaten a lawsuit, people tend to get their back up.

13 Jul

Patterico Patterico

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@Stranahan Yeah.

11 Jul

Patterico Patterico

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@Stranahan He has done a very good job on Project Gunrunner.

11 Jul

Patterico Patterico

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@rsmccain Death threat!

11 Jul

Patterico Patterico

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@WildStreetJourn On a Plane?

10 Jul

Patterico Patterico

Strangers in My Pants on a Train. #improvefilmtitlesbyaddinginmypants

10 Jul

imthemommy6 AC Campbell

by Patterico

The Firm In My Pants. #improvemovietitlesbyaddinginmypants

10 Jul

imthemommy6 AC Campbell

by Patterico

What Dreams May Come In my Pants. #improvemovietitlesbyaddinginmypants

10 Jul

Patterico Patterico

Mary Poppins in My Pants. #improvefilmtitlesbyaddinginmypants

10 Jul

Patterico Patterico

Magic in My Pants. #improvefilmtitlesbyaddinginmypants

10 Jul

Patterico Patterico

What's Up in My Pants, Tiger Lily? #improvefilmtitlesbyaddinginmypants

10 Jul

Patterico Patterico

A Funny Thing Happened in My Pants on the Way to the Forum. #improvefilmtitlesbyaddinginmypants

10 Jul

Patterico Patterico

North by Northwest in My Pants. #improvefilmtitlesbyaddinginmypants

10 Jul

Patterico Patterico

Spoke to detective on case where JG claimed @Stranahan threatened her. Not just unhelpful; appallingly rude.

9 Jul

rsmccain Robert Stacy McCain

by Patterico

#tcot #CA36 Does the Los Angeles Times Understand the Meaning of the Word 'Discredited'? http://bit.ly/qQhaYO

8 Jul

Patterico Patterico

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@ZoeyalaMode Any amateur can elicit a so-called "laugh." It takes a true master of humor to prompt a barely perceptible smile of amusement.

8 Jul

Patterico Patterico

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@ronbryn I wish I could live up to the ideal you have come to expect from me lo these many years of admiration for me.

8 Jul

Patterico Patterico

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@RocksEm Longtime readers recognize my humor. It's not "funny-ha-ha." It's "funny-by-Jove-that-is-mildly-amusing."

8 Jul

Patterico Patterico

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@RocksEm Patterico account hacked! Now posting funny tweets!!

8 Jul

ronbryn Ron Brynaert

by Patterico

Anyone can see Patterico twitter was hacked now...he has crazy message to andrewbreitbart up now....

8 Jul

Patterico Patterico

@AndrewBreitbart I am a conservative who does not hate you but loves banging ... oh hi honey ... the drum of freedom!

7 Jul

Patterico Patterico

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@ronbryn I meant "responsible" and you know exactly what I mean. You're being responsible about something that you and I know about.

7 Jul

Patterico Patterico

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@ronbryn I'm only going to say this one more time. That was me. Please calm down. You know something few know and are being responsible. 10Q

7 Jul

Patterico Patterico

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@ronbryn Good tip. Extensive and revealing quotes here: is.gd/xaPtPy Note that the goal is to create paranoia.

7 Jul

Patterico Patterico

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@ronbryn The editor of Raw Story admired me for years? Really? @Liberty_Chick

7 Jul

Patterico Patterico

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@ronbryn You haven't been reading me long enough. Ask anyone.

7 Jul

Patterico Patterico

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@ronbryn It does sound like someone has been messing with you. But if you won't talk, you won't talk.

7 Jul

Patterico Patterico

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@ronbryn Hahaha. Well, sometimes I'm too stupid to be me. Anyway, you have been ranting about something. Of course I'm going to ask what...

7 Jul

Patterico Patterico

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@ronbryn It was. I was curious to know what you have been going on about.

7 Jul

Patterico Patterico

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@ronbryn Gotta get back to work. Feel free to fully lay out this alleged plot against me and I will read your evidence later.

7 Jul

Patterico Patterico

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@ronbryn Yeah? So Raw Story and Brett Kimberlin are unconnected? Really? @Liberty_Chick

7 Jul

Patterico Patterico

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@ronbryn Possible. Don't play into it. Don't be paranoid. Calmly explain what you are talking about.

7 Jul

Patterico Patterico

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@ronbryn Not a smear. I didn't understand what you were saying and meant to be asking if you are friendly with Kimberlin.

7 Jul

Patterico Patterico

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@ronbryn No, on that one thing you were not being punked.

7 Jul

Patterico Patterico

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@ronbryn Why don't you explain publicly and in clear English why you think this? Reveal as much detail as possible. Sounds implausible.

7 Jul

Patterico Patterico

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@ronbryn And what makes you think that?

7 Jul

Patterico Patterico

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@ronbryn I assumed they must have based on the way you were acting. I do care but I also have my real job to attend to. Call police.

7 Jul

Patterico Patterico

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@ronbryn I never said a word to you about your family being safe, or about them at all. Please leave me alone.

7 Jul

Patterico Patterico

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@ronbryn I have no idea what you're talking about. You have sent me a barrage of incoherent emails and phoned me incessantly. Please stop.

7 Jul

Patterico Patterico

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@CuffyP There are reasons the principals are interested. When you learn about them you'll be interested too.

7 Jul

Patterico Patterico

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@Stranahan You yourself called for Reid to be asked questions after fake IDs revealed. But I am disengaging. Lie on, Macduff. Over and out.

7 Jul