Widespread hacking hits credit cards

Wayne Swan says allegations of credit card hacking must be “thoroughly investigated.”

The Treasurer was responding to reports that both Malcolm Turnbull and the businessman David Smorgon are among the victims of widespread hacking.

The reports said both men had their credit card details published on the internet by hackers.

Replying to a reporter in Brisbane Mr Swan said: “…I think the first thing is we’ll have to establish how that hacking occurred,”

“Obviously there’s a breach of the law.

“This will need to be thoroughly investigated and then prosecuted,”Mr Swan added:

A spokesman for Mr Turnbull confirmed that the former Opposition Leader’s private details had been published.

Mr Smorgon said he had cancelled his credit card upon hearing the news.

“I was advised by Stratfor -a  US security firm – a few days ago on what had happened,” Mr Smorgon said.

“I was totally surprised.”

“… I have cancelled my American Express credit card and I was obviously not the first to do so.

“This is a warning bell for everyone and I guess it’s the cost of doing business online.”

A loose-knit hacking movement  called Anonymous claimed on Sunday through Twitter that it had stolen thousands of credit card numbers and other personal information belonging to clients of Stratfor.

Hackers posted a link online to what they said was Stratfor’s private client list.

They also posted images claiming to show receipts for donations made to charity using credit cards belonging to Stratfor clients, including the US Department of Defense and Department of Homeland Security.

The Australian Department of Defence has a contract with Stratfor for a database subscription until November 2012.