The website for the popular Reading Terminal Market in downtown Philadelphia has been hacked at the apparent fingertips of a teenager.
Those who visit ReadingTerminalMarket.org on Friday morning were greeted by a black screen with a spinning logo for the hacker 1337MiR.
"Just security test. Website hacked for fun. Nothing's deleted, all data are safe," a message read above the hacker's call sign.
In an email exchange with hacker, he apologized for the attack, calling himself a 16-year-old "white hat hacker" who identifies security flaws in websites. 1337MiR's website showcases a number of similar attacks on websites and Skype accounts.
"I just notify website owner/admin about their website security to secure their site from bad hackers and spammer. And I deface website for fun. I never harm any website data," he wrote.
He promised to send over the vulnerabilities he found to Reading Terminal officials. But he did not explain how or why he chose the website.
Paul Steinke, general manager for the famous Center City Philadelphia market, said officials worked with their web hosting company to get control of the hack.
"We never experienced this before," he lightheartedly said of the attack.
The website was restored around noon on Friday.
Reading Terminal Market is one of the oldest indoor markets in the country and is frequented by locals and tourists alike. More than 100 food spots, goods dealers and other merchants take up space in the market at 12th and Arch Streets.
