Hackers target ‘pro-life’ US state government agencies in Kentucky and Arkansas, saying ‘attacks will continue’ and ‘f**k the government’
- SiegedSec, a hacking group, announced it is targeting anti-abortion US states
- The first trove of data leaked includes eight gigabytes from Kentucky and Arkansas that contains personally identifiable information
- The hacking group has compromised over 100 websites since its formation
A group of hackers known as SiegedSec is targeting US state agencies with anti-abortion stances in protest of the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v Wade that guaranteed the right to an abortion.
The first stash of data it has leaked includes eight gigabytes apparently stolen from state governments in Kentucky, which has outlawed abortion except in rare circumstances, and Arkansas, which has banned it entirely.
A post on the hacker group’s Telegram channel seems to show documents with information on property transactions and includes personally identifiable information of residents in those states.
On June 23, the Supreme Court upended almost 50 years of precedent when it overturned the landmark Roe v Wade decision that legalized abortion in America – sparking widespread protests and multiple trigger-law bans at the state level.
A group of hackers known as SiegedSec is targeting anti-abortion US state agencies. Above: Their Telegram post, in which they share some leaked documents and state their plans
‘Like many, we are also pro-choice, one shouldn’t be denied access to abortion,’ the hacking group said on Telegram
‘Like many, we are also pro-choice, one shouldn’t be denied access to abortion.’
SiegedSec’s statement continues: ‘As added pressure to the US government, we have leaked many internal documents and files retrieved from Kentucky’s and Arkansas’ government servers.’
‘These docs have plenty of employee PII (personally identifiable information) and lots more.’
The group added that ‘the attacks will continue,’ stating: ‘Our main targets are any pro-life entities, including government servers of the states with anti-abortion laws. Keep protesting, keep yourself safe, f*** the government.’
SiegedSec also reassured its followers that while pursuing abortion rights activism the group will ‘still do blackhat stuff,’ presumably referring to its more typical activities of targeting private sector companies.
A hacking group is targeting anti-abortion US state agencies. Abortion rights protesters are seen after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade on June 24
According to dark web security service DarkOwl, the hacker group has emerged as a result of the ongoing Russian war in Ukraine.
SiegedSec has compromised over 100 websites since its formation, DarkOwl states.
It has also accessed several thousand LinkedIn profiles.
Before these new US state hacks, the group was thought of as a ‘fairly small-scale operation’ with the potential ‘to evolve into a high-consequential cyber threat,’ according to DarkOwl.
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Read more at DailyMail.co.uk