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21 Jun 2007
A hacker claims to have broken into Bloomsbury Publishing and got away with a copy of the forthcoming and final Harry Potter book.
The hacker, known only as 'Gabriel', posted messages on the Full Disclosure mailing list at InSecure.org, claiming to be in possession of a full copy of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.
According to the post, 'Gabriel' exploited the PCs of one or more employees at Bloomsbury by sending an email-borne threat.
Once the recipient activated the threat by opening the email, the hacker professes to have been able to lift a draft copy of the highly anticipated book.
"It is amazing to see how much people inside the company have copies and drafts of this book," the so-called hacker said on the mailing list. "Curiosity killed the cat."
'Gabriel' then posted what he claims to be a number of spoilers, revealing the end of the book. "So we make this spoiler to make reading of the upcoming book useless and boring," he said.
Simon Clausen, chief executive at security firm PC Tools, said of the hackers claim: "Is it true? Only the hacker and the publisher really know the answer to that question. Is it possible? Certainly."
Clausen added that companies are being targeted in this way everyday. " Corporate and personal espionage have been taken to a whole new level due to the easy accessibility of the building blocks to create threats," he explained.
"Previously only an experienced hacker would be able to produce custom threats, but these days any tech savvy individual or even 'script-kiddie' can plug the pieces together like Lego and easily make their own."
J K Rowling's final instalment of the Harry Potter saga is not set to hit shelves until 21 July.
"Hackers are regularly using popular events or a newsworthy item to entice users with what is usually a piece of fiction," said Clausen.
"This is another timely reminder to consumers and businesses of the dangers online and why they need to implement protection."
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Do you agree?
omg i no it was ages ago
but ur were wrong I did indeed have a copy beforehand!
Posted by: Hughesy04 14 Sep 2008
he is such a loser
wow im not really into the whole harry potter thing but i can see why ppl would be upset. i like the movies tho and since this "gabriel" messed up the movie for me, i am upset too. he's a loser that believes that harry potter would change the world's religion. he needs to get a hobby and stop readin because he is livin in some sort of fantasy world. loser loser loser. try match.com at least you might find a date and stop tryin to read books quicker than others... hahaha... dork
Posted by: NATY 18 Jul 2007
who cares?
yeah i have me a copy...but i cbf reading it on my comp lol
Posted by: Hughesy04 18 Jul 2007
harry potter pirate copy
i dunno why everyone is tryin to get this illegal copy off pirate bay, i would much rather wait till saturday n read the proper copy
Posted by: nic 18 Jul 2007
sad sad person
hes lying. he just wants some attention to make his sad and pathetic life seem more interesting!!! if he really did have the book he would be selling it and making money off it but hes not because he doesn't have it!!!
Posted by: nick 18 Jul 2007
omg
This guy (or girl) sounds like he/she is about ten. This person needs to get a life and should stop tring to get attetion. If you thought it was so boring why did you go to all that trouble to stealing the book? I hope nobody believes you.
Posted by: goodgirl 15 Jul 2007
LOL
lol if this is so gimme the link to the book im tired of waiting o.o i demand proof lol
Posted by: ... 02 Jul 2007
damn
that hacker needs to get a life.
Posted by: "Gabriel" duh. 26 Jun 2007
So close
It seems impossible nowadays to keep a secret. The lucky thing is that the theft of this manuscript is only 3-4 weeks before the books actual release and not 3-4 months.
Posted by: Ken 25 Jun 2007
Hacker and Potter
Two things, One Does the Hacker actually have a copy or is it an advert for the "seller" of hacked copies of the book. Two How does the hacker know it is not a security ploy to leave a "fake" copy with a fake ending for Hackers to find and thus put them off the trail of the real book which is , I suspect, on a MAC and not a hackable PC.
Posted by: David Russell 23 Jun 2007
HarryPotter Hacker
Let me just say. You religious freaks need to get a freaking life. You worry about and a movie. It's just a boo and it's just a movie. Nothing more. Nothing less. Pure entrainment. You people worry about the most stupid stuff in the world. What good and evil. Get over your self and get a life. It must have took soo much brain cell to "SO CALL" hack a site. Which, you can go to jail for. So if I read the Texas chain saw. Will I kill people with a chain saw? Grow up and get a life. Stop trying to take the fun out of people entertainment. If anyone read this and don't like this. TOO BAD. Such is life and life goes on.
Posted by: BloodyKisses 22 Jun 2007