Hacktivist group Anonymous struck at an agriculture giant, leaking data on 2,500 of its employees and affiliates, a computer security firm reported Wednesday.
Sophos Canada senior security adviser Chester Wisniewski said the group targeted Monsanto in its mission "#OpMonsanto."
"Anonymous mentioned port 6666 being open on a Monsanto server, implying that they might set up an IRC channel on the compromised host. Anonymous also stated they intend to create a wiki for sharing and organizing their stolen information," Wisniewski said in a blogpost.
He said that Anonymous also claimed to have taken down Monsanto web assets and mail servers.
Wisniewski also said Anonymous declared plans to attack other corporations, including Exxon Mobil, ConocoPhillips, Canadian Oil Sands Ltd., Imperial Oil, the Royal Bank of Scotland, and many others in an operation they call "Project Tarmeggedon."
"These companies have been involved in developing the Alberta, Canada oil sands. The oil sands have been controversial among environmentalists for years, as the methods used to extract the oil from the sand are detrimental to the environment," he said. — TJD, GMA News