Computer hack helped feed an Islamic State death list

McClatchy DC ^ | July 20, 2016 | Tim Johnson

[detective]

The attack seemed like a garden-variety digital holdup.

A computer intruder, calling himself the “Albanian hacker,” left a message for the administrator of a website for an Illinois internet retailer: Pay two Bitcoins, or about $500 at the time, and the intruder would “remove all bugs on your shop!”

Such demands are typical among underground hackers who infect computers with malicious code and seize control of them, freeing them only after receiving a payment.

But this case was more than a surreptitious digital mugging. The trespasser had ties to the Islamic State Hacking Division, a terrorist cyber unit, and before it was over he’d put together a “kill list” for the Islamic State with the identities of 1,351 U.S. government and military personnel from the 100,000 names, credit card records and Social Security numbers he’d extracted from the host server.

[detective]

"On Aug. 11, the ISIS cyber army leader, Junaid Hussain, tweeted a link to a 30-page document containing vast details about 1,351 U.S. personnel, calling them “Crusaders” who were conducting a “bombing campaign against the muslims.” He said followers would “strike at your necks in your own lands!”"

[NEMDF]

Does anyone know whether there have been any valid threats or actions against anyone on the “ISIS kill lists”? Someone I know was informed by the FBI that he is on such a list. Thank you.

[softengine]

Anyone know who the retailer was? I see no mention in the linked article, nor does Google turn up a specific name.

[publius911]

Anyone know who the retailer was? I see no mention in the linked article, nor does Google turn up a specific name

Someone does; but it's deemed too sensitive and disastrous for future businesses who may be revealed for their lax security.

Read the additional info at the link at the top of this thread.

[zzwhale]

whack em