Hackers hit US Trade Commission

Hacktivist group Anonymous brought down Tuesday afternoon (Manila time) yet another US government site, and dumped its data online.

 

In a post on its Twitter site, the group claimed responsibility for bringing down the Federal Trade Commission website (www.onguardonline.gov).

 

"Oh noes! Looks like the FTC's http://onguardonline.gov has been hacked by #Anonymous! ^__^" it claimed.

 

The group also indicated a URL where the data it took can supposedly be retrieved.

 

A check of the affected site as of 2 p.m. returned an error message, but tech site The Next Web said that for some moments, the site's front page was replaced by a screen featuring the Anonymous logo, a rap song and a message to politicians and US authorities.

 

The Next Web said the message warned of future attacks and action should the Stop Online Piracy Act and Protect IP Act be passed.

 

"If SOPA/PIPA/ACTA passes we will wage a relentless war against the corporate internet, destroying dozens upon dozens of government and company websites. As you are reading this we are amassing our allied armies of darkness, preparing boatloads of stolen booty for our next raid. We are sitting on hundreds of rooted servers getting ready to drop all your mysql dumps and mail spools. Your passwords? Your precious bank accounts? Even your online dating details?! You ain’t even trying to step to this," it said.

 

Only last week, Anonymous brought down the Federal Bureau of Investigation's website and those of several government agencies and companies, in response to the US Department of Justice (DoJ) decision to suspend and investigate file sharing service Megaupload.

 

This week, hackers also threatened to bring down social networking giant Facebook, even as Facebook downplayed the threat. — TJD, GMA News