Stratfor hacking victims may be targeted again

Stratfor, a global intelligence company, said some victims of a data breach may be targeted again for offering public support for the company after they speak out about the hacking, according to media reports on Tuesday. U.S.-based Stratfor, provides independent analysis of international affairs and security threats and describes itself as a publisher of geopolitical analysis. It charges subscribers for its reports and analysis, delivered through the web, emails and videos. Stratfor said on its Facebook page that its affected clients and its supporters "are at risk of having sensitive information repeatedly published on other websites." According to the Associated Press, the hacking movement "Anonymous" claimed Sunday through Twitter that it had stolen thousands of credit card numbers and other personal information belonging to the company's clients. A Stratfor spokesman said several law enforcement agencies are investigating the incident but would not say whether the information was encrypted in its database. The data was posted in a series of releases in links embedded in online messages that, in turn, were linked to Twitter. Some of the files appeared to be alphabetical listings of Stratfor clients with related credit card information. The amount posted suggests that information about more than 100,000 individuals and thousands of companies was exposed, according to the AP report. According to media reports, Stratfor sent an e-mail Sunday to subscribers, saying that on Dec. 24 an unauthorized party disclosed personally identifiable information and related credit card data of some of its members. "We have reason to believe that your personal and credit card data could have been included in the information that was illegally obtained and disclosed," it said.