Law enforcement agencies investigating Syracuse PD website breach

'Anonymous' hackers target SPD's public website
Feb. 2, 2012

Syracuse (WSYR-TV) -- They call themselves “Anonymous” and the hackers claim they have infiltrated Pay-Pal, Sony, Visa, even the Justice Department to make political points.

"A lot of what Anonymous is known for is their reaction to Wiki-Leaks and to certain companies that were collaborating to bring down Wiki-Leaks,” security expert Bob Clary told NewsChannel 9.

Their latest target may be the Syracuse Police Department . The public website, www.syracusepolice.org, where you’d usually find out about fugitives, anonymous tips and police recruiting is now shut down, after it was hacked at 11:30 PM on January 1, 2012.

Anonymous supporters took credit for the job, with online claims that they targeted Syracuse Police and the Texas Police Association for a “lack of effort.” In a link to "more information," the group said "Syracuse doesn't take abuse seriously." They referred to a criminal case involving Brian Hutchings, who actually served on the Auburn Police force and is not connected to the Syracuse Police Department.

They also made a connection to the Bernie Fine case by linking to an MSNBC report that Syracuse Police knew about sexual abuse claims against the former coach since 2002.

Internal servers where Syracuse Police store criminal investigation information and police reports were not compromised, according to Sgt. Tom Connellan. But officer logins and password data for the page were posted online. Connellan says those passwords were immediately changed.

Clary says website breaches are often due to simple configuration problems that are easily discovered and preventable. The hackers are far more elusive. They are spread across the world and constantly recruiting.

“With the Internet and social media, organizations become almost instantaneous. Things go viral very quickly,” Clary said.

Syracuse wasn’t alone. Along with the Texas Police Association, there are reports that the Salt Lake City Police Department’s website was also hacked by Anonymous.

Federal agencies are working to track down the hackers. Syracuse police will keep their public site down until the department’s IT professionals are sure it’s secure according to Connellan.

SPD's public website hacked
February 2, 2012

Syracuse (WSYR-TV) -- Syracuse Police report that the department's public website has been hacked. Police believe it to be the work of the hacker group known as "Anonymous."

According to Syracuse Police Sergeant Tom Connellan, the department's website at www.syracusepolice.org was hacked at around 11:30 Wednesday night.

Sgt. Connellan stresses that only the department's public website was attacked. The department's internal servers where criminal investigation information, police reports and other sensitive information is stored was not compromised.

Connellan says the public website features information about the department’s activities, recruiting, contact information, information about fugitives and a way to contact police with anonymous tips.

According to Fox 13 News in Salt Lake City, Utah, that city's police department's website was also hacked by Anonymous. SLC Police report more extensive intrusions to their website, according to the station. The station also reported the website of the Texas Police Association was hacked along with the Syracuse Police.

Connellan says the SPD website will remain down until the department's IT professionals are sure it is secure. He says the authorities are working with the appropriate Federal agencies to track down the hackers.