Anonymous Follows Through on Threat to Expose Chinese Files

In the largest leak yet from hacktivists backing the Hong Kong democracy protests, 42,419 emails, usernames and passwords, among other data, were posted online.  One spillage contained 3,265 emails, names, and phone numbers. Yet another included 5,552 emails, usernames, and passwords.

The data, allegedly taken from Chinese government websites, appeared Oct. 11.

Individuals affiliated with the hacker collective Anonymous declared in an announcement on a filesharing site: “China Attacks Success!”

The leaks were part of a campaign launched around Oct. 3 called Operation Hong Kong, or #OpHongKong.

“This is just the beginning or a series of attacks we have planned,” a hacktivist going by the name “Strudalz” wrote in an online chat.

Links were also posted to the databases of 51 Chinese government websites.

“Strudalz said by launching the cyberattacks, Anonymous is showing the students protesting for democracy in Hong Kong that they aren’t alone, and that people around the world support them,” Epoch Times reports. “Strudalz said ‘it shows that the people (Anywhere) have more than they think backing them.’”