Hacker put details on web in spite

[InfoSec News <isn () c4i org>]

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storydisplay.cfm?storyID=3523946

17.09.2003
By JUHA SAARINEN 

A 14-year-old hacker put 895 customer records of Hamilton internet
provider Net4U on the web in an act of spite.

The information included the names, addresses and telephone numbers,
as well as email addresses, passwords and customers' credit card
numbers with expiry dates.

Net4U customer Dan Clark of Scarfies.net in Dunedin said he was
outraged his details had been put on the web. He had been happy with
Net4U's overall service, but "in terms of security, they've obviously
got a lot to learn still" and planned to move off the internet
provider soon.

Another Net4U customer, Adam Dinneen of Christchurch, contacted the
Herald and said he was made aware of the website with the customer
records on the file swapping DC++ service and found his personal
details and credit card number on it. He had cancelled his credit card
and would lay a complaint with the police.

The site showing the credit card details is hosted by another internet
provider, Orcon of Albany. Orcon's managing director, Seeby Woodhouse,
whose details were also found in the database, told the Herald he did
not know who had put up the site, as the internet provider offered
free websites for customers.

"It's probably someone who doesn't like us or Net4U very much," Mr
Woodhouse said, after being read out a profane message left for
Orcon's system administrator, Craig Whitmore, on the hacker's site.

An email address left on the website leads to a domain registered by a
Conrad Gair of Newmarket. However, the contact email address in the
registration details belongs to a 14-year-old who was a former
employee of Net4U.

The hacker admitted publishing the site at Orcon and also on a United
States web hosting service. He told the Herald he now regretted
putting up the sites. He said his motive was to get back at Sahil
Gupta, the owner of Net4U.

Mr Gupta did not respond to telephone and email messages before
publication.

The office of the Privacy Commissioner advises Net4U customers
concerned that their privacy may have been breached to contact it.



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