AntiSec claims it stole 12 million Apple IDs

GlobalPost

A group of hackers who call themselves part of the AntiSec movement claimed on Tuesday to have posted over a million Apple device identification numbers, which they say were stolen from an FBI agent's computer in March, according to The Washington Post.

According to The Post, AntiSec is the name that members of Anonymous and LulzSec gave to a joint venture targeting government agencies and businesses with cyber attacks.

At the time, LulzSec said, "Top priority is to steal and leak any classified government information, including email spools and documentation. Prime targets are banks and other high-ranking establishments."

The group claimed that the million Apple ID numbers are only a small portion of nearly 12 million taken from an FBI computer. AntiSec said it decided to release the IDs list to bolster its claims that the FBI uses the IDs to gather people's Apple device details, according to The Los Angeles Times.

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The Wall Street Journal said the UDIDs are 40-digit identifiers which stay with the gadget forever. AntiSec claimed that some of the IDs are tied to full names, cell numbers and more information.

"A Wall Street Journal study in 2010 found that more than half of the apps studied transmitted some sort of unique device ID to other companies without users' awareness or consent," said The Journal.

Privacy advocates have raised concerns about IDs being tied to user names and social networking accounts, according to The Journal. Apple said it planned to crack down on developers accessing UDIDs.

The FBI released a statement saying there was no proof to support AntiSec's claims. "At this time there is no evidence indicating that an FBI laptop was compromised or that the FBI either sought or obtained this data," said a spokesman, according to Reuters.

The LA Times said you can check if your Apple ID was among those released today using a tool created by The Next Web.

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