Shift Syndicate

Shift Syndicate is a so called group that hacked the ShiftOS download page in Late June 2017.

Their Message
Shift Syndicates Message was that they felt that ShiftOS was being abandoned by Michael. They wanted Michael to step down as the creator and allow Shift Syndicate to be the new creator. They felt as if ShiftOS was going in no direction and needed to be set on a different path.

Aftermath
After Michael got rid of the iframe on the download page he put up a message on the website and removed the bugspray website. He made this message:

"Hey there. Michael here. The project status of ShiftOS has gone from deprecated to undetermined. I feel like working on the game however I'm probably going to be releasing builds less often and I'll probably be a bit less vocal about it.

I have made a video explaining what's going on with the project.

Additionally, I'll most likely set up a proper website on this server when I feel it's ready to bring the game back to the public. Keep checking back for updates." Michael made a video talking about the project on the ShiftOS Youtube Channel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kpT2Jhh7pyE

As of August 1, 2017, he was not sure of the direction of the project. Later on in the month, however, the project would be abandoned and all of Michael's YouTube videos deleted. Michael would soon drop off the face of the Internet, re-emerging as "Alkaline Thunder." He is currently working on a game called "The Peacenet," and a documentary on the rise and fall of ShiftOS.