Hackers Target ‘Think Tank’ Stratfor For Credit Cards

By: Susan Harris
12/26/2011 10:09 AM ET

Hackers Target Think Tank – Hackers who call themselves “Anonymous” have stolen thousands of credit card numbers from think tank company Stratfor. The data includes personal information belonging to their clients. The group said the goal was to steal money from individual accounts to give away as Christmas donations. Several victims confirmed unauthorized transactions linked to their cards and have reported the fraud with their bank.

The hackers bragged about the operation and Stratfor’s client list, which includes companies ranging from Apple to the U.S. Air Force. The Miami Police department is also a client. They stole about 4,000 credit card numbers, home addresses, and passwords.

The group went public with their theft, as if taunting the company: “Not so private and secret anymore?” the hackers posted on Twitter. The also promised another intrusion and attack for Sratfor and said the Christmas Day theft was only the beginning. Anonymous said the 200 gigabytes of data has been leaked, and couldn’t believe that the security company never encrypted the credit card numbers, which is why they obtained the numbers.

Statfor worked out of Austin, Texas and provides economic and military analysis to clients who want to reduce risk and it charges a premium subscription for regular reports using email and videos.

The Air Force released a short statement:

“The Air Force will continue to monitor the situation and, as always, take appropriate action as necessary to protect Air Force networks and information,” Lt. Col. John Dorrian, public affairs officer for the Air Force, said in a statement.

The Miami Police Department was completely mute about the theft and could not confirm whether or not they were a client of Stratfor.

Miami Police Department spokesman Sgt. Freddie Cruz Jr. said that he could not confirm that the agency was a client of Stratfor, and he said he had not received any information about a security breach involving the police department.

It’s the first time that the same group of hackers targeted a think tank.