DataBreaches.Net

Menu
  • About
  • Breach Notification Laws
  • Privacy Policy
  • Transparency Report
Menu

Lulzsec 2011 census released – UPDATED – or not!

Posted on June 21, 2011 by Dissent

In a message that undoubtedly should send shudders down the spines of those involved in the security of UK census data, the hacking collective known as LulzSec posted a message on Pastebin yesterday:

Greetings Internets,

We have blissfully obtained records of every single citizen who gave their records to the security-illiterate UK government for the 2011 census

We’re keeping them under lock and key though… so don’t worry about your privacy (…until we finish re-formatting them for release)

Myself and the rest of my Lulz shipmates will then embark upon a trip to ThePirateBay with our beautiful records for your viewing pleasure!

Ahoy! Bwahahaha… >:]

Assuming the veracity of their claims,  I can only hope that they do not post/reveal everyone’s data but that they do explain how they got around the government’s putative security. (Note: Graham Cluley says Sophos is assuming it *isn’t* true until they see some proof; I guess I’m more pessimistic).

And would the hackers  find (or scarily, have they already found) it as easy to acquire sensitive personal and medical data from the NHS and SCR (Summary Care Records) system?  Privacy advocates have long expressed concerned about the security of the SCR system, and a massive compromise of that system could make the UK public less likely to trust it or want their records to become part of it. LulzSec already gave NHS one gentle warning, but what else have they accessed or acquired?

To date, LulzSec does not report that they have compromised any major U.S. health care databases but that may only be a matter of time. What would happen here should a large healthcare insurer’s database be acquired or a huge hospital system’s patient records database be compromised and posted online?  How would that impact the development of large networked databases here?  And what if they decided to take down a power grid “for the lulz?”

Back in the UK, Tamlin Magee comments on TechEye.net:

An expert with high levels of access to government spoke on condition of anonymity to TechEye – and has told us that the only thing that will make us stand up and take note will be a truly catastrophic disaster. We are not talking data theft. We are talking significant, weighted attacks on the country’s infrastructure. Hospitals. Power grids. Airports. Data leaks are just the beginning.

This is not sensationalism. This is real. The entire country needs to wake up from its nap – Sony didn’t teach us squat, neither will this, if true, but it should.

Tamlin is right, of course. And to those who still have not taken security more seriously because “It can’t happen to us,” I would say, “How do you know it hasn’t already happened to you?” According to the hackers themselves, not every compromise has been revealed.  So my question to our government and large private sector firms that amass huge quantities of data is this:  what are you doing right now to harden your security?  Are you still vulnerable to SQL injections after all these years and after all of the warnings you’ve had?  If so, you’re still playing with fire but it is us who will get burned.

UPDATE:  Graham Cluley notes:

There were also rumours earlier today that LulzSec had stolen details from the UK Census. This story always appeared somewhat dubious, and LulzSec has now officially denied any involvement.

The Lulz Boat@LulzSec

Just saw the pastebin of the UK census hack. That wasn’t us – don’t believe fake LulzSec releases unless we put out a tweet first.

(tweet)

Unless any evidence comes to light, I think we can be reasonably confident that no hack has occurred against the UK census.

 

Category: Breach IncidentsCommentaries and AnalysesGovernment SectorHackNon-U.S.

Post navigation

← Tables Turn for Dentist Who Shared Patient Info
2 fired at University of Iowa Hospitals for peeking at records →

Now more than ever

"Stand with Ukraine:" above raised hands. The illustration is in blue and yellow, the colors of Ukraine's flag.

Search

Browse by Categories

Recent Posts

  • New evidence links long-running hacking group to Indian government
  • Zaporizhzhia Cyber ​​Police Exposes Hacker Who Caused Millions in Losses to Victims by Mining Cryptocurrency
  • Germany fines Vodafone $51 million for privacy, security breaches
  • Google: Hackers target Salesforce accounts in data extortion attacks
  • The US Grid Attack Looming on the Horizon
  • US govt login portal could be one cyberattack away from collapse, say auditors
  • Two Men Sentenced to Prison for Aggravated Identity Theft and Computer Hacking Crimes
  • 100,000 UK taxpayer accounts hit in £47m phishing attack on HMRC
  • CISA Alert: Updated Guidance on Play Ransomware
  • Almost one year later, U.S. Dermatology Partners is still not being very transparent about their 2024 breach

No, You Can’t Buy a Post or an Interview

This site does not accept sponsored posts or link-back arrangements. Inquiries about either are ignored.

And despite what some trolls may try to claim: DataBreaches has never accepted even one dime to interview or report on anyone. Nor will DataBreaches ever pay anyone for data or to interview them.

Want to Get Our RSS Feed?

Grab it here:

https://databreaches.net/feed/

RSS Recent Posts on PogoWasRight.org

  • How the FBI Sought a Warrant to Search Instagram of Columbia Student Protesters
  • Germany fines Vodafone $51 million for privacy, security breaches
  • Malaysia enacts data sharing rules for public sector
  • U.S. Enacts Take It Down Act
  • 23andMe Bankruptcy Judge Ponders Trump Bill’s Injunction Impact
  • Hell No: The ODNI Wants to Make it Easier for the Government to Buy Your Data Without Warrant
  • US State Dept. says silence or anonymity on social media is suspicious

Have a News Tip?

Email: Tips[at]DataBreaches.net

Signal: +1 516-776-7756

Contact Me

Email: info[at]databreaches.net

Mastodon: Infosec.Exchange/@PogoWasRight

Signal: +1 516-776-7756

DMCA Concern: dmca[at]databreaches.net
© 2009 – 2025 DataBreaches.net and DataBreaches LLC. All rights reserved.