Hackers attack another Sony network ! - Sony Corporation's third high-profile security breach comes after it promised to enhance its security measures !

Hackers have once again broken into Sony Corporation's computer networks, this time claiming to have stolen customer data to prove that the company's systems remain vulnerable to attack.

That marked the latest setback for Sony, which discovered in April that hackers had stolen data from more than 100 million of its accounts. Nobody has claimed responsibility for that attack.

The group LulzSec said on Thursday it broke into servers that run Sony Pictures Entertainment websites, and accessed the personal information of more than one million Sony customers.
(Photo 01 ; Group LulzSec says it accessed the personal information of more than one million Sony customers)

To underscore the point that the Japanese electronics giant is unable to keep intruders out of its network, LulzSec published the names, birthdates, addresses, emails, phone numbers and passwords of thousands of people who had entered contests promoted by Sony.

A Sony spokesman said the company was "looking into these claims" but declined to elaborate.


'We accessed everything' - hacking group said

"From a single injection, we accessed everything," the hacking group said in a statement. "Why do you put such faith in a company that allows itself to become open to these simple attacks?"

The Reuters news agency confirmed the authenticity of the data published about several of the sweepstakes entrants.

The attacks came on a day Sony executives were hauled before a Congressional committee to testify on the April attack of its gaming networks. Representatives criticised Sony for waiting several days to notify customers of the breach.

The US Federal Trade Commission could choose to review circumstances leading to this latest attack if Sony Pictures Entertainment failed to use proper procedures for protecting the data of its customers.


John Bumgarner, chief technology officer for the US Cyber Consequences Unit, a nonprofit group that monitors Web threats, was not surprised Sony's systems had again been breached.

"The system was unsecure," Bumgarner said, who last month warned of a string of security vulnerabilities across Sony's networks that he identified without special access to the electronics giant's computer systems.

He said he found vulnerabilities in the Sony Pictures Entertainment network as recently as last weekend.

The first hacking attacks in April, considered the biggest in Internet history, prompted Sony to shut down its PlayStation Network and other services for close to a month.

LulzSec has claimed responsibility for several hacks over the past month. It said it defaced the US PBS television network's websites, and posted data stolen from its servers Monday to protest a "Front Line" documentary about WikiLeaks.

It has also broken into a Fox.com website and published data about contestants for the upcoming Fox TV talent show, "X Factor".

LulzSec also said on Thursday it had hacked into Sony BMG Music Entertainment Netherlands and Belgium. It previously disclosed an attack on Sony Music Japan.

Maldives deny cricket WC 'attack plot'

Authorities in Maldives have denied a statement by Interpol that a Maldivian national has plotted to stage an attack on the cricket world Cup in Sri Lanka.


Addressing media in Pakistan on Thursday, Interpol chief Ronald Noble has said that the World Cup “is safe” after the recent arrest of Iqbal Mohamed on his return from Karachi to Male through Colombo.


The statement indicated that the suspect has planned "a terrorist attack" on the ongoing cricket World Cup co-hosted by Sri Lanka, India and Bangladesh.


"Just last week, through the cooperation from Pakistan, Sri Lanka and the Maldives, we were able to identify, locate and arrest a terrorist, who had left Karachi on his way to the Maldives with criminal intentions," Mr Noble said.



"Thanks to the cooperation of your country and other countries we were able to make sure that the World Cup remained safe."


'Serious attempt'


The press briefing was also attended by Pakistan's Interior Minister Rehman Malik.


"There was a serious attempt of act of terrorism" being planned during the World Cup, Minister Malik said.


But a Chief Police Inspector in Maldives- who did not wished to be named -told BBC Sinhala service that the police have uncovered no links with the suspect, Iqbal Mohamed, 42, and the alleged plot to attack the cricket World Cup.


"We believe that it is some kind of a misconception in sections of the media that he had some association with an alleged terror plot during the World Cup," the inspector said.


The Chief Inspector said Iqbal Mohamed is the only Maldivian national arrested with the help of Interpol in recent weeks.


It is just a "mere co-incidence," he said, that the suspect happened to be interdicted during the World Cup.


"We have not had any evidence or intelligence information associating this person to any such attack," he told BBC Sandeshaya.



A court in Maldives has later released the suspect on bail.


The police spokesman also denied the reports that the suspect was arrested in Colombo on his way to Male.


"He was arrested in Male. We had an Interpol red notice issued against him and he was absconding since 2007 and we also had prior knowledge of his return to Male about few weeks back," he said.


"We do really appreciate Interpol's effort to enforce this red notice especially at a time when the cricket World Cup is going on."


The police spokesman said the reports of an alleged attack on the cricket World Cup by a Maldivian national has had a "negative impact" on Maldives, a popular tourist destination.


source ; BBC

Another Demonstration in (Maharagama) Sri Lanka had being brutally attacked by Maharagama Police and Government Thugs

On 11th Feb a group of Government thugs had arrived at the location and attacked the demonstrators as the demonstration was about to commence at about 5.00 p.m.At the same time police riot squad attacked the protestors with tear gas,baton charge as well as water cannon according to the sources from Maharagama.

JVP MP Sunil Handunneththi had arrived at the location to discuss with police officers but he too was targeted by the water cannon. The journalists who were covering the demonstration too were threatened and attacked.

Seven innocent people who joined the demonstration were arrested after brutally attacking them.

(Note: Images taken from LankaTruth.com)