Hackers Invade US Gannett Government Media Websites

It's reported that some unidentified hackers managed to acquire illegitimate admission into the US defense sector's network of news websites as well as took down confidential user data, which is capable of letting the execution of targeted attacks particularly spear phishing assaults, thus published Infosecurity in news on July 1, 2011.

Using an electronic mail, which Gannett Government Media Corporation circulated, the company stated that a cyber assault had been waged against its portal network, which led a few users incapable of accessing portions or the entire number of portals. As per the newswire, criminals could utilize the stolen data for creating convincible e-mails, which would disseminate data-stealing malicious programs, alternatively hunt for sensitive details via the exploitation of passwords that had been by now exposed. Infosecurity published this.

The media company further stated that it found the criminals also acquired illegitimate admission into files that held data of a few people, who used its service. The data reportedly comprised names, e-mail ids, usernames and passwords, accounts' internal numbers, and incase available, pay-grade, duty status, ZIP code and service branch, the company reported. Infosecurity published this.

The newswire cautioned that its readers must remain wary of e-mails, which appeared genuine although directed recipients for giving their bank account, credit card or Social Security numbers as well as other personal details.

It also said that users mustn't follow web-links embedded on the e-mails which take onto websites directing that users need to login alternatively feed their private particulars. Likewise they mustn't view or download attachments provided inside the e-mails, since there could be spyware, viruses or other malware inside those attachments.

Moreover, the company said that Gannett Government Media Corporation also referred to as Defense News wouldn't ever dispatch its readers e-mails soliciting their social security number, credit card number alternatively any other personal identifiable detail. Los Angeles Times published this on June 28, 2011.

Additionally the company advised that users required strengthening/resetting their passwords for own accounts on Gannett Government Media Corporation as also any additional personal accounts, especially ones which utilized the same Gannett Government Media Corporation e-mail id of theirs.

Related article: Hackers Redirect Windows Live Search to Malicious Sites

» SPAMfighter News - 7/11/2011