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Swede Hacks Embassy Account Information From Around the World

Posted by Zonk on from the around-the-world-in-an-address-book dept.

paulraps writes "A Swedish IT consultant has caused a stir in diplomatic circles after publishing a list of secret log-in details belonging to 100 embassies, public authorities and political parties around the world. Dan Egerstad said he wasn't trying to earn money, gain publicity or get a name for himself in hacking circles. Instead he claimed that publishing the list was easier than contacting the organizations individually — and that if he had handed it to the Swedish authorities then that would have been spying."

6 of 92 comments (clear)

  1. When best intentions go wrong by Paperghost · · Score: 5, Funny

    "Dan Egerstad said he wasn't trying to earn money, gain publicity or get a name for himself in hacking circles." ....whoops.

  2. Not after fame, eh? by blind+biker · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Then why not publish the list anonymously?

    --
    "The agriculture ministry is not in charge of Gundam" - Japanese ministry official.
  3. Re:Because.... by kevin_conaway · · Score: 5, Insightful

    If he DID publish the list anonymously, then the list could just as easily been dismissed (through political agreements) as completely inaccurate/wrong.

    I don't see how having a random strangers name attached to the list makes the data published any more or less accurate.

  4. The real truth by paulraps · · Score: 5, Informative

    Here's a more detailed article on the subject, ending with a highly amusing quote from Dan Egerstad about his real reason for releasing the log-in info.

  5. According to the Swedish Hacker by Rob+T+Firefly · · Score: 5, Funny

    Their security is borked.

    --
    Slashdot Burying Stories About Slashdot Media Owned
  6. Re:Good intentions? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    "he could just send out an email with a bunch of BCCs"

    Thats basically what he did. It doesn't sound like this list is very public. Its just making its way around the so-called "diplomatic" circles.

    Let's look at this from another angle. He quietly published this list, and probably notified all the affected embassies. Then, at least some of the embassies, and a few news outlets, verify the list. Then, at least some of the embassies change the passwords. Then, those news outlets are able to get comments from the embassies and the guy, and then, publish a story on it. All this happened before YOU found out about it.

    I say its a little early to fault the guy, since what he did is working just fine. Had he contacted each embassy individually, he would have had to convince each one over several emails or phone conversations. This way, he probably only had to talk to a few news outlets / embassies. Had he published the list in a local paper (i laughed out loud at this one) as another slasher suggested, the general public would probably have read copies of the emails in the affected accounts before the embassies ever knew there was a problem.