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Burger King's Twitter page is hacked, gains 30k new followers

Marketing lesson?

THE OFFICIAL TWITTER account for Burger King was taken over by hackers earlier today – who managed to gain over 30,000 new followers before their antics got the account suspended.

The users behind the account rebranded it with a McDonalds avatar and background, changing the bio to read: “Just got sold to McDonalds because the whopper flopped =[“.

About 50 tweets were posted by the hackers, who may have been able to maintain control of the page because today is a national holiday – President’s Day – in the United States, meaning most corporate buildings are closed.

Having been taken over at about 5pm Irish time, it was not until 6:15pm that the account was suspended – but the event will reap some long-term benefit for BK’s online presence, given that its number of followers swelled from just under 75,000 to just under 110,000 before the plug was pulled.

Read: Twitter attacked by ‘sophisticated’ hackers

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15 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Conn Rogers
    Favourite Conn Rogers
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    May 28th 2015, 12:44 PM

    Expected battery life: 4 minutes

    285
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    Mute Deco James Connolly
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    May 28th 2015, 1:14 PM

    That long ! Sign me up.

    60
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    Mute MadMax
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    May 28th 2015, 2:37 PM

    About she same time as my iPhone then

    32
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ciaran Farrell
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    May 28th 2015, 12:44 PM

    Any chance they could just develop stronger batteries for smartphones.

    116
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    Mute IrishGravyTrain
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    May 28th 2015, 2:02 PM

    Why would they do that. They need that battery to run its course after a couple of years to sell you a new phone.

    37
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute The Descolada
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    May 28th 2015, 12:48 PM

    Bet the japanese are already figuring out how to use it with porn

    67
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    Mute IrishGravyTrain
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    May 28th 2015, 2:03 PM

    Japanese. Be one of the first things most men anywhere in the world would do.

    27
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    Mute stewie
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    May 28th 2015, 1:39 PM

    it feels like only yesterday that having Snake or Tetris on your phone was the height of technology.Im getting old.

    43
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    Mute John Reese
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    May 28th 2015, 1:38 PM

    Battery life is THE issue on phones these days. The man or company that comes up with a solution will be rich.

    25
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ciaran Farrell
    Favourite Ciaran Farrell
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    May 28th 2015, 1:53 PM

    The Duracell Bunny has been strangely quiet this last while. Must be hard at work in R&D

    19
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    Mute Raymond Power
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    May 28th 2015, 1:41 PM

    Seems the sci fi movies of 30 years ago are truly upon us.

    22
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    Mute Matthew Donoghue
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    May 28th 2015, 3:10 PM

    Where’s all the hoverboards???

    7
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    Mute Ciaran Farrell
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    May 28th 2015, 6:18 PM
    4
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    Mute JustAoife
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    May 28th 2015, 12:41 PM

    That was (falsely) leaked as a feature of the iPhone 5 a couple of years back. Thought it was just as pointless then as it is now

    16
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    Mute JustAoife
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    May 28th 2015, 3:08 PM
    3
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    Mute Deborah Behan
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    May 28th 2015, 12:59 PM

    WANT!!!!

    12
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    Mute Ciaran Farrell
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    May 28th 2015, 1:10 PM

    Deborah.. The phone or Pontious’ suggestion?

    22
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    Mute Deborah Behan
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    May 28th 2015, 9:24 PM

    Eaney meaney miney mo!!

    2
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    Mute John Doyle
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    May 28th 2015, 1:17 PM

    Probably be full of bloatware. Click Advert to use keyboard or something stupid like that.

    6
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    Mute Shakka1244
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    May 28th 2015, 3:19 PM

    I’m guessing you’re a “glass half empty” type of guy. Am I right?

    10
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    Mute Adrian Bollard
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    May 28th 2015, 4:56 PM

    The future is nigh…

    2
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    Mute Aaron Brady
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    May 28th 2015, 3:33 PM

    Looks good, but lenovo are stuck on mid range phones, screen doesn’t look anywhere near a 5 inch, also doesn’t even look like it’s 1080o

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    Mute Pete Gibson
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    May 28th 2015, 10:45 PM

    Re: The usage of “cause” here.
    When the word “because” is abbreviated it is normally spelt as ‘cos.
    (This is ‘cos the words because and cause have completely different meanings)

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    Mute SCO Electrical
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    May 28th 2015, 6:42 PM

    Class

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    Mute Sam McCormack
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    May 28th 2015, 11:19 PM

    Like the HP Sprout then.

    1
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