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
Throw the book at him.
I shouldn't laugh.....but I will.
LOL!
Sure. Maybe Jeremy hasn't used the credit card info. Who'd he give or sell the data to. International "pals" gets my bet.
http://www.namesecure.com has domains for $7.95 now.
Goferit...;)
Did he have the Card #'s in his possession?
Pretty clear to me - Jeremy's an FBI ear. How many anarchist hackers do you suppose he's dropped a dime on?
Whoa! Talk about a bad hair day!
I think he looks more like a troll than an elf. He behaves like one too.
bttt
What exactly was Protest Warrior doing keeping credit card numbers? And why were they on their web server? They certainly shouldn't have kept the info on a machine that could be so easily compromised.
IMHO, this shows some basic lack of understanding of computer security.
The hacker should get nailed to the wall, but the incident doesn't reflect too well on PW, either.
That's the part he's probably sweating bullets over.
If the credit card information was furnished, that's another crime. If it was furninshed abroad, that's even worse than before. If it ended up in the hands of a 'peaceful Muslim charity' that the Feds link to terror, say adios to Jeremy.
People pay big money to get "bed head" hair....:)
Bump for a later read.
"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."
Anyone who would donate to someone who steals credit card numbers is a f***ing moron and deserves the maxed-out cards he gets...
.. and those allied, working with, and supporting the "hactivist" agenda. It opens their entire "network" up. Boyo, did Jeremy pick the WRONG site to hack.
Yeah. Probably using someone else's credit card. (Couldn't resist!) (:
Thank you, for laughing :-)
Heavens! Good for PW and the FBI.
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