Jeremy Kirk reports:
Hacking Team has warned that a devastating data breach it suffered will allow its spying tools to be used by criminals and terrorists.
The Milan-based security company, which develops surveillance tools for mostly government clients, saw more than 400GB of internal data released on Sunday, including emails, clients lists, financial information and source code.
“Terrorists, extortionists and others can deploy this technology at will if they have the technical ability to do so,” wrote Hacking Team spokesman Eric Rabe in a news release on Wednesday. “We believe this is an extremely dangerous situation.”
Read more on PC Advisor. See also The Register.
So… maybe they should have secured their intellectual property and files better? And if they didn’t know that 400GB had been exfiltrated, is it possible that their files had already been raided by state actors for other governments who have been using their technology? What will a real forensic investigation reveal?
Another company using security by obscurity for their security stance.
This announcement is more like a call for other customers. If they had a clue, they could upgrade their software and break any existing older code. All they would have to do is offer an upgrade version which is actually crippleware and then offer the new software to currently paid subscribers.
This is far from over, They will receive many-a-beatings, especially for a comment like this. I am sure there is some financial gain behind all of this, as well as some identification of IP’s that have their software loaded up.
They can cry wolf and make stupid comments like this, all its going to do is offer some more fuel for their own self destruction. Its interesting to see them calling themselves out. If they are willing to do that to themselves…. what do clients expect from these bozos?
400GB? I take it their was no one monitoring the house of goods, no IPS IDS worth a damn along with no one capable of stopping the transfer.
I think a “company” like this simply buys an exploit from the underground for a hefty fee, and offers it to its clients. Now the underground probably sees some of its well hidden wares escaping, and it will try to find the mole.