'Anonymous' hacker group releases data from Chinese govt sites

The 'Anonymous' group of computer hackers
yesterday followed up on its threat made to release data
from Chinese government websites in support of the pro-
democracy protests in Hong Kong.
The group released hundreds of phone numbers and e-mail
addresses of the Ningbo Free Trade Zone in Zhejiang
province and a job-search site run by the Changxing county
administration, also in the coastal province, Hong Kong-
based South China Morning Post reported today.
Anonymous took the action shortly after the government
denounced the group's threat of cyberattacks, which were
apparently in support of the protesters.
The data also included individual IP addresses and names.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry said earlier that the threat
shows that China is a victim of cyber assaults and faced a
major threat from international hacker groups.
It
was not immediately clear why the two websites were
targeted.
Anonymous said it had already infiltrated more than 50
mainland government databases and leaked 50,000 user
names and e-mails, saying it was fulfilling promises to
"stand and fight alongside the citizens of Hong Kong".
The group had earlier targeted Hong Kong sites after
issuing a first warning on October 2.
In a public video message, Anonymous declared 'cyberwar'
on the government and police force for the use of tear gas
against demonstrators, the Post report said.
Anonymous made some sites either inaccessible or
intermittently accessible on October 3.
Michael Gazeley, managing director of security service
provider Network Box, said it was difficult to judge "whether
(the earlier attacks) really are (the work) of Anonymous to
start with" because Anonymous is a loosely associated
group, the Post report said.