14 DAY TRIAL // Hackers associated with Anonymous' Operation AntiSec have hacked into 77 websites belonging to various law enforcement agencies and stole sensitive data.
The websites were apparently hosted on the same server and include those of the sheriff's offices and local administrations in many counties.
The hackers claim they've stolen between 5 and 10 GB of confidential data from the websites, including training courses and the personal information of over 7,000 officers.
The exposed info is said to include names, addresses, phone numbers, Social Security numbers, usernames and passwords.
"[The data] also contained jail inmate databases and active warrant information, but we are redacting the name/address info to demonstrate how those facing the gun of the criminal injustice system are our comrades and not our adversaries.
"On the other hand, we will be making public name and contact information about informants who had the false impression that they would be able to ‘anonymously’ snitch in secrecy," the hackers wrote in a message left on the defaced websites.
The motives behind the attack seem to be retaliation to the recent law enforcement actions against Anonymous supporters, particularly those in US.
"To law enforcement: your bogus trumped-up charges against the Anonymous PayPal LOIC attacks will not stick, nor will your intimidation tactics stop us from exposing your corruption. [...]
"We demand prosecutors immediately drop all charges and investigations against all ‘Anonymous’ defendants," the attackers say.
Some of the affected websites were taken offline, probably for investigations, but many remained online despite the alleged attack.
The investigations launched by the FBI and other law enforcement agencies into Anonymous attacks are starting to show results. Sixteen people were arrested in connection with attacks against PayPal and a dozen more are being investigated in connection with attacks against Koch Industries.
In UK, the Metropolitan Police is believed to have arrested LulzSec members tflow and Topiary. Topiary who is also a high ranking member of Anonymous has been charged with five offenses under the Computer Misuse Act.