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Cops Set Up Extortion Sting On Symantec's Source Code Thieves

Posted by timothy on from the don't-worry-now-we're-telling-the-truth dept.

Sparrowvsrevolution writes "Hackers linked with Anonymous leaked another 1.26 gigabytes of Symantec's data Monday night, what they say is the source code company's PCAnywhere program. More interestingly, also posted a long private email conversation that seems to show a Symantec exec offering the hackers $50,000 to not leak the company's data and to publicly state they had lied about obtaining it. Symantec has responded by revealing that in fact, the $50,000 offer had been a ruse, and the 'Symantec exec' was actually a law enforcement agent trying to trace the hackers. It adds that all the information the hackers have released, including a 2006 version of Norton Internet Security, is outdated and poses no threat to the company or its customers. Symantec says the Anonymous hackers began attempting to extort money from the company in mid-January, and it responded by contacting law enforcement, though it won't comment on the results of the fake payoff sting while the investigation is still ongoing."

8 of 168 comments (clear)

  1. Cops set up FAILED exortion sting by elrous0 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    FTFY

    --
    SJW: Someone who has run out of real oppression, and has to fake it.
    1. Re:Cops set up FAILED exortion sting by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      Cops set up FAILED exortion sting

      As a person who is involved in this case (I'm with the cyber-crime unit of the FBI), I can confidently tell you that we've narrowed down our search (based on IP addresses) to a grandmother in a seniors home in Florida.

      Little does she know that joining Anonymous does not make her Anonymous. As I write this, the government is in the process of seizing her assets. She thinks she's smart, but in the end she'll end up loosing everything, including her wheel chair.

    2. Re:Cops set up FAILED exortion sting by iamhassi · · Score: 5, Interesting

      Why is Symantec acting like they fooled Anonymous? In the email it says "Say hi to FBI agents" and Symantec is like "We are not in contact with the FBI."

      Symantec fail.

      Title should be: Anonymous outsmarts Police, Symantec sting

      --
      my karma will be here long after I'm gone
    3. Re:Cops set up FAILED exortion sting by Sir_Eptishous · · Score: 5, Funny

      And boy, there's nothing worse than a loose wheelchair!

      --
      We play the game with the bravery of being out of range
    4. Re:Cops set up FAILED exortion sting by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

      I wouldn't really call it "entrapment." That's if a cop tries to get you to commit a crime you were unlikely to commit. If I hack a major security company and steal their source code blackmailing the company is going to be right there on the list next to "sell on black market." Plus, it's not extortion since the "Symantec Exec" offered the money first.

      Last I checked, the police are totally allowed to lie to suspects. Anything from "last night, your momma said you always were a bad kid" to "we have the smoking gun and it points at you and is covered with every type of DNA imaginable (which would also make you a gun pervert) and it matches to you. It also says you're late on your alimony. "

  2. Better option for the title by fibonacci8 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Symantec and FBI attempt to patch security vulnerability with cash.

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    Inheritance is the sincerest form of nepotism.
  3. Re:If they were really extorting by Moheeheeko · · Score: 5, Funny

    It's actually sad. The statements by the "criminals" are more believable

    You mean to tell me you believe Symantec?

  4. That's not entrapment by abigsmurf · · Score: 5, Informative

    They had already committed the crime, the sting was to get them to give away their identity so they could be prosecuted for it. It's a legitimate tactic.