Anonymous publishes stolen Oz ISP data in protest over new Internet spy plan

Sydney, July 30 (ANI): Notorious Internet hacking group Anonymous has started publishing customer information they stole from one of the largest Australian land line telecommunications firms AAPT, according to a report.

Anonymous stole 40GB worth of user data from AAPT in a protest against proposed changes to privacy laws that would force ISPs (Internet Service Providers) to store user data and make it available to intelligence agencies for up to two years.

Although most of the data published so far, which the hackers began putting online over the weekend, has been redacted, the Age reports.

Some of the customer records posted online include the desk telephone and mobile telephone numbers of AAPT business customers, potentially giving away enough information to someone who wanted to steal a person's identity, the report said.

Business customers' bank account information was also posted, although partially redacted.

Anonymous had said it performed the hack on AAPT to highlight how storing sensitive details in a database, such as every Australian's web history, could result in groups like it hacking the database and leaking it.

"We will not sit around as we have big brother watching us from all angles and eyes pointed at everyone," Anonymous said.

"We as people have the right to protest in any way shape or form to get our voices heard," it added. (ANI)