Apple user names and passwords allegedly exposed after AntiSec hack

Online hacktivist collective Anonymous is claiming to have hacked into Apple and exposed internal user names and passwords in what could be the latest attack in the ongoing AntiSec campaign.

Anonymous announced the hack on its AnonymousIRC Twitter account on Sunday, providing a link to the apparently hacked credentials which were posted on Pastebin.

"Not being so serious, but well: http://t.co/DOE7Aeh | #Apple could be target, too," the post read. "But don't worry, we are busy elsewhere."

The Pastebin document contains a link to the supposed Apple server which Anonymous claims to have hacked, plus 27 admin user names and passwords.

Given that Anonymous used the Twitter hashtag #AntiSec with the post, it seems likely that the attack is part of the Anti Security campaign launched with hacking group LulzSec last month.

Operation Anti-Security was first launched with a mission to expose classified government information as well as email and other data from "banks and other high-ranking establishments".

After several high-profile successes, including a distributed denial-of-service attack against the Serious Organised Crime Agency, LulzSec announced last week that its six members were disbanding, but encouraged any followers to switch their allegiances to Anonymous.

Apple had not responded to a request for comment at the time of writing.

Carl Leonard, senior research manager at Websense Security Labs, told V3.co.uk that his team has been monitoring a steady increase in attacks from "loosely organised dissident groups of hackers".

"The danger is that their success will inspire others to unleash copycat attacks against UK public and private sector companies," he added.

"These hacking groups are targeting data, so it is crucial that corporations are prepared for these threats by ensuring that procedures are put in place to protect your data. To beat hacking groups organisations are going to need to stay one step ahead of them. Bottom line: protect your data from top to bottom."