June 6 – A leading hacker group is preparing a cyber-attack on corporate sponsors of the World Cup in Brazil to protest the lavish spending on the World Cup, according to sources close to the group.
Earlier this week, Anonymous infiltrated Brazil’s Foreign Ministry computer networks and leaked dozens of confidential emails including a briefing of talks between Brazilian officials and US Vice President Joe Biden during a visit to Brazil in May last year and a list of sports ministers who plan to attend the World Cup.
“We have already conducted late-night tests to see which of the sites are more vulnerable,” said one hacker quoted by Reuters operating under the alias of Che Commodore. “We have a plan of attack.”
“This time we are targeting the sponsors of the World Cup,” he said in a Skype conversation from an undisclosed location in Brazil. Asked to name the potential targets he mentioned Adidas, Emirates airline [EMIRA.UL], the Coca-Cola Co and Budweiser, which is owned by Anheuser-Busch InBev.
The threat of cyber-attacks is the latest headache for the organisers of the World Cup that kicks off next Thursday. The tournament has already been marred by long delays in stadium construction and widespread street protests over the excessive cost of hosting the event in a country with huge poverty and under-funded public services. Wi-fi availability at several stadiums has apparently not yet been completed.
The Foreign Ministry closed down its entire email system after the latest cyber attack and instructed its 3,000 email account holders to change their passwords.
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