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FBI to investigate hacked iPad e-mails
by Jamie Anderson - June 12, 2010 - comments
The New York-based Gawker Media has been asked by the FBI to retain documents as part of a probe into the exposure of email addresses belonging to iPad owners
The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has taken up the task of investigating the leak of 114,000 Apple iPad users' e-mail addresses.
"The FBI is aware of these possible computer intrusions and has opened an investigation into addressing the potential cyberthreat," confirmed Lindsay Godwin, an FBI spokeswoman.
Details as to whether the investigations have been initiated at the request of Apple or AT&T were not divulged.
A group of hackers, by the name Goatse Security, made merry after discovering a flaw on AT&T's Web site, and stole a large chunk of iPad owners' identifying information.
The miscreants not only managed to download the e-mail addresses of various Google, Amazon, Microsoft employees but also of famous personalities like Rahm Emanuel who is the White House chief of staff , Michael Bloomberg the mayor of New York and ABC News anchor Diane Sawyer.
The modus operandi
Goatse realised that a Web application on AT&T's Web site returned an iPad user's e-mail address, especially when written queries were sent to it.
These queries involved ICC-IDs (Integrated Circuit Card Identifiers), unique numbers given to iPad owners that identify iPads connected to AT&T's mobile network.
Escher Auernheimer, a key member of Goatse Security, group of hackers, defended his group's involvement in the issue claiming that it was done in public's interest. He claimed that nothing was illegal about their act.
The group then wrote an automated script that repeatedly sent thousands of random ICC-IDs and thus managed to download the e-mail Ids.
This data was then passed onto Gawker Media LLC, sister site of Valleywag.
AT&T takes the blame
The responsibility for the lapse lies with AT&T and the behemoth acknowledges it.
"We apologize that this happened. Nothing is more important to us. It's the No. 1 priority, protecting customer privacy," AT&T spokesperson Mark Siegel said.
In fact, AT&T defended Apple by stating, "This is an AT&T issue ... and people should feel comfortable using their iPads."
Meanwhile, there have been no comments from Apple in this regard.
Escher Auernheimer, a key member of Goatse, defended his group's involvement in the issue claiming that it was done in public's interest. He claimed that nothing was illegal about their act.
"So I think it was necessary to inform the public in this particular manner. I know some people are criticizing us and calling it irresponsible, but we did our best effort to be good guys about it,” he said.
“We waited until the hole was patched. We didn't disclose the data except to a reporter who agreed to censor the relevant bits. We felt it was in the public's best interest," Auernheimer added.