Arizona DPS computers hacked in protest of SB 1070 (allegedly)

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Hacking computers is a crime and I am opposed to it in all cases without exception. Whatever justifications one might invent in one's own mind, there is none. It is a crime, period. And in this case it has the potential of putting the lives of law enforcement officers in jeopardy depending upon what information was obtained and what information is released. There is no justification for that.

Dan Gibson at the Tucson Weekly briefly describes Hacker Group Protests SB1070 With Deluge of Information | The Range:

Hacker group Lulzsec, which has been on a data thievery rampage of late, including attacks on Sony, PBS, and the tv show X Factor, has made Arizona law enforcement its latest target. Making 700 confidential documents from Arizona Public Safety available on torrent sites, the group said in a press release that they were "targeting AZDPS specifically because we are against SB1070 and the racial profiling anti-immigrant police state that is Arizona". Some of the release includes personal information, including phone numbers and addresses of officers.

The Arizona Republic has more details. Global hacking group breaks into DPS network:

The hacking group LulzSec, which has taken responsibility for breaching the websites of the CIA and the U.S. Senate, said in a bulletin that it targeted the DPS because LulzSec opposes Senate Bill 1070, a law the Arizona Legislature passed that widened law-enforcement officers' ability to apprehend illegal immigrants. The law is largely on hold pending a review by the U.S. Supreme Court.

The DPS files, posted on LulzSec's website, include personal information about officers and numerous documents ranging from routine alerts from out-of-state police agencies to videos and photos about the hazards of police work and operations of drug gangs. The names of the files are as innocuous as "resume" and "evaluation form" and as provocative as "cartel leader threatens deadly force on U.S. police."

In its Web posting, the group said the files were primarily related to U.S. Border Patrol and counterterrorism operations.

The hackers vowed to release more classified documents each week as a way to embarrass authorities and sabotage their work.

* * *

The only breach identified by the DPS so far has been that of the e-mail accounts, the passwords of which were also posted online. The agency suspects most, if not all, of the information released was obtained via what was available on those accounts.

Although LulzSec claims some of the files were labeled "not for public distribution," Harrison said. The DPS did not believe any sensitive information that would compromise current investigations was leaked.

* * *

Other documents included an intelligence bulletin about the leader of a Mexican drug cartel, an advisory from the Arizona Counter Terrorism Intelligence Center and Highway Patrol operational plans for responding to border threats.

According to news reports, the anonymous computer-hacking group has taken responsibility for breaching websites of the CIA, the U.S. Senate, the Public Broadcast System and numerous video-game companies.

LulzSec posts its exploits on Twitter and, as of Thursday, claimed more than 261,200 followers.

* * *

In a bulletin accompanying the latest release of information, LulzSec said:

"We are releasing hundreds of private intelligence bulletins, training manuals, personal e-mail correspondence, names, phone numbers, addresses and passwords belonging to Arizona law enforcement. We are targeting AZDPS specifically because we are against SB 1070 and the racial profiling anti-immigrant police state that is Arizona."

The group said it will release more information every week to embarrass military and law-enforcement officials "in an effort not just to reveal their racist and corrupt nature but to purposefully sabotage their efforts to terrorize communities fighting an unjust 'war on drugs.' "

Wait, what? We went from racial profiling under SB 1070 to "an unjust war on drugs"? Are these hackers also stoners as well? Why does every protest always devolve into some stoner saying "legalize marijuana, man."

The Arizona Capitol Times (subscription required) adds Hacker group LulzSec says it infiltrated Arizona public safety files:

The Arizona Republic reported that experts worked Thursday evening to close external access to DPS’ system.

However, that didn’t help several DPS officers who said either their home phone or cellphone were constantly ringing Thursday with many of the calls from strangers.

“Well, they got my cellphone. It’s not a good thing,” said officer Steven Loya, adding that his email and home address also were posted on the LulzSec site.

Loya said he was inundated with calls and emails and was in the process of getting his phone number changed.

If this hacker group thinks they are going to build public sympathy for opposition to SB 1070 by jeopardizing DPS officers they are sadly mistaken. Just the opposite is true. They are an unhelpful and unnecessary distraction and are counter-productive. And let's not forget they committed a crime.