Anonymous hacks US defense contractor

Hacktivist group Anonymous struck again this week, attacking the website of a US defense contractor and stealing and publishing thousands of its emails and documents. Computer security firm Sophos said the victim, Vanguard Defense Industries, works with agencies like the Department of Homeland Security and FBI. “Of course, real life battlefield technology like that is no protection against cybercriminals, who appear to have published emails and documents containing VDI meeting notes, contracts, schematics and other confidential information as part of the hackers’ ongoing ‘F**k FBI Friday’ campaign," Sophos said in a blog post. It said the hackers were targeting VDI’s senior vice president Richard Garcia, who they said previously worked as Assistant Director to the Los Angeles FBI office as well as the Global Security Manager for Shell Oil Corporation. VDI helped develop the unmanned remote-controlled ShadowHawk helicopter, which can be used for aerial surveillance and fly at up to 70 mph. Sophos quoted the hacktivists as saying Garcia is also an executive board member of InfraGard, another partner targeted by hacktivists earlier this year. “It is our pleasure to make a mockery of InfraGard for the third time, once again dumping their internal meeting notes, membership rosters, and other private business matters," Sophos quoted the hackers as saying. The hack attack was made under the flag of Operation AntiSec, a series of hacking attacks started by Anonymous and the supposedly defunct Lulz Security (LulzSec). “Past victims have included US government security contractor ManTech and DHS contractor Booz Allen Hamilton," Sophos noted. — TJD, GMA News