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Protest Warrior Hacker Caught
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Posted on 07/05/2005 8:27:56 AM PDT by mnehring

In January 2005, Jeremy Hammond and the hacker group collectively known as the "Internet Liberation Front" gained illegal access to the ProtestWarrior server. Thousands of customer credit card numbers were then stolen for the purpose of making millions of dollars in donations to various leftwing organizations. In early February, ProtestWarrior discovered the illegal breach and the identity of the criminals responsible.

Using the hacker recruiting ground www.hackthissite.org, Jeremy Hammond put together and led a team of politically motivated "hacktivists" to probe the ProtestWarrior server for months until an exploit was found. When an obscure vulnerability was discovered in the PW server's newsletter subscription code, they managed to upload malicious files that gave them the ability to execute commands on the server.

Upon discovering the hack, we immediately began collecting information on the breach and managed to penetrate Jeremy's inner circle. We then collected evidence that more than 5,000 credit card numbers had been stolen by Jeremy and the "Internet Liberation Front" and that they were planning on doing the following:

*charge hundreds of dollars per stolen credit card number as donations to various left-wing organizations by using an automated donation submission script

*send the entire ProtestWarrior HQ database (complete with usernames, passwords, and operation details) to left-wing groups hostile to ProtestWarrior (including the entire contents of our mail server)

*upload all credit card numbers and other sensitive customer information to hundreds of anarchist and left-wing sites (specifically Indymedia) as a downloadable zip file

*anonymously send press releases and material to thousands of media contacts to boast of the malicious hack and the millions of dollars defrauded, and to publish any and all sensitive information regarding the ProtestWarrior organization

*erase the entire PW server

*launch simultaneous attacks on other conservative sites

Upon discovering their plans, we contacted the FBI and the Secret Service, who immediately began investigating the case. We were able to provide them with a tremendous amount of evidence regarding the breach, the criminals responsible, and their plans to commit massive credit card fraud. We also reported the incident to all credit card companies involved to make sure that ProtestWarrior's customers were protected. With our help, the FBI was able to thwart Jeremy and his army of "hacktivists".

After contacting the FBI, we immediately hired a security consultant and removed all sensitive information from the server. We eventually moved the server to a new box, where we blocked off the system and data files from the web server and changed the online store software to a super- secure system that stores zero sensitive customer information. In addition, we hired an internet security firm to run a series of vigorous vulnerability tests on our server, which our server all passed.

The reason we haven't made this announcement earlier is that our customers were already protected and we didn't want to jeopardize the ongoing FBI investigation of Jeremy and his "hacktivist" army.

The reason we're posting this now is that Jeremy, in a desperate move, is publicly appealing to the internet community regarding his pending FBI investigation. Using his site www.freejeremy. com, he is trying to solicit donations for his defense fund and generate public sympathy while spreading slanderous disinformation regarding ProtestWarrior and the events leading up to the FBI investigation.

We will soon be releasing much more information and details regarding the incident and the ongoing FBI investigation. Rest assured, justice will be served.

-Kfir and Alan www.protestwarrior.com


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Technical
KEYWORDS: alqueida; anarchblackcross; communist; corruptdems; criminal; cyberterrorism; elecfreedomfront; hacker; hackeralert; idtheft; indymedia; jeremyhammond; luz3r; mitcszczepanczyk; prison; prisontime; protestwarrior; pwn4ge; resistca; rwor; saddam; scriptkiddies; securitybreach; stalinistkgb; theft; wwp
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To: thackney

Thanks. A great story.

Kudos to Protest Warrior for all the set up they did to bring him down!


21 posted on 07/05/2005 8:48:02 AM PDT by Flyer (I'm looking for the FReeper that recommended Glory brand canned greens)
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To: rhombus
The elf, himself.


22 posted on 07/05/2005 8:50:07 AM PDT by Salamander (We're pain, we're steel, a plot of knives. We're Transmaniacon MC!)
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To: nina0113

for later research


23 posted on 07/05/2005 8:50:09 AM PDT by nina0113
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To: Criminal Number 18F

Maybe his pals over at (bowel) move on.org can bail him out


24 posted on 07/05/2005 8:50:15 AM PDT by dearolddad
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To: mnehrling

Glad they caught him - I hope they nail his butt to the wall for this!


25 posted on 07/05/2005 8:50:43 AM PDT by Clintons Are White Trash (Lynn Stewart, Helen Thomas , Molly Ivins, Maureen Dowd - The Axis of Ugly)
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To: mnehrling
Just looked over the site. Jeez this guy is disingenuous! BTW, there is an on-line petition one can sign to support (or not, I would imagine) Jeremy.
26 posted on 07/05/2005 8:50:43 AM PDT by SoftballMominVA
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To: Criminal Number 18F

Reading between the lines on his FAQ page:




These charges are outrageous and reactionary because none of this has actually happened. The website has not been defaced and no credit card numbers has been billed.




He does seem to admit taking the credit card numbers. This is probably what's behind the hysterical demands for the FBI to return the property (which they won't do till they can analyse it). The felony attaches when you take the credit card number, you don't actually have to do anything with it. IANAL but I see at manyt felonies here, and additional counts for every additional card.

Jeremy's friends should not be making any long-range plans with him.

d.o.l.

Criminal Number 18F


27 posted on 07/05/2005 8:52:01 AM PDT by Criminal Number 18F (Support and avenge our fallen operators)
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To: SheWolf; BlueOneGolf; Bluegrass Conservative; SLB
PW PING :D

Bump to the top

28 posted on 07/05/2005 8:52:25 AM PDT by skinkinthegrass (Just because you're paranoid, doesn't mean they aren't out to get you :^)
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To: mnehrling
His punishment should be to spend 5 minutes alone with each person from whom he stole a credit card number. No holds barred, anything goes.

I doubt he'd make it past the first 5 minute period.

29 posted on 07/05/2005 8:52:30 AM PDT by MEGoody (Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.)
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To: Mad Dawgg
Facing intimidation from both the FBI and the Secret Service, he is being accused of hacking into right-wing website ProtestWarrior.com. [INSERT PREGNANT OMISSION HERE] While the website had not been damaged and no credit cards were billed...,
30 posted on 07/05/2005 8:52:47 AM PDT by martin_fierro (< |:)~)
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To: StarCMC

It's amazing that so many Anarchists are so organized - sort of false advertising.


31 posted on 07/05/2005 8:55:23 AM PDT by Socratic (Liberal's motto: Capio ergo sum.)
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To: mnehrling
Jeremy has a cute little face. I'm sure he will be well loved in his future home. His defense that he hasn't hurt anyone holds about as much water as a fishnet.
32 posted on 07/05/2005 8:55:40 AM PDT by armymarinemom (My sons freed Iraqi and Afghanistan Honor Roll students.)
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To: Salamander

Well, he certainly looks like an honest and upstanding boy. I'm sure he didn't mean to cause any harm and that some terrible childhood problems are to blame.

Yeah, that's the ticket. /sarcasm


33 posted on 07/05/2005 8:56:13 AM PDT by SelmaLee (Go Ricky!)
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To: Salamander
The elf, himself.

What a fun guy! Maybe he can spread his revolution to the prisons.

34 posted on 07/05/2005 8:56:58 AM PDT by rhombus
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To: rhombus
To Jeremy and friends: Please, take this to heart!
35 posted on 07/05/2005 8:57:44 AM PDT by StarCMC (Old Sarge is my hero...doing it right in Iraq! Vaya con Dios, Sarge.)
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To: Socratic

LMAO - I never thought of that, but you're right!!


36 posted on 07/05/2005 8:58:29 AM PDT by StarCMC (Old Sarge is my hero...doing it right in Iraq! Vaya con Dios, Sarge.)
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To: rhombus
"They can kill the revolutionary but they cannot kill the revolution."

Half a loaf is better than none.

37 posted on 07/05/2005 8:59:10 AM PDT by Ditto ( No trees were killed in sending this message, but billions of electrons were inconvenienced.)
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To: martin_fierro
Actually, I rather hope this was written by Jewwemy's attorney.

'Twould make it more likely that ouw hee-wo will be doing a decade or two as a guest of the taxpayer, would it not? /evilgrin

38 posted on 07/05/2005 8:59:41 AM PDT by SAJ
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To: martin_fierro
Facing intimidation from both the FBI and the Secret Service..While the website had not been damaged and no credit cards were billed...

Let's hope this case "bears" fruit....no doubt, the "tolerant left" will pull "ALL THE STOPS" to protect this little piece of S**T.

39 posted on 07/05/2005 9:00:51 AM PDT by skinkinthegrass (Just because you're paranoid, doesn't mean they aren't out to get you :^)
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To: Salamander

Is he wearing Ben Affleck's wig?


40 posted on 07/05/2005 9:01:00 AM PDT by rabidralph
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