Apple supplier Foxconn hit by hackers

Screenshot by Lance Whitney/CNET

Apple supplier Foxconn now has another crisis on its hands.

A group of hackers known as Swagg Security is taking credit for a breach of Foxconn security, resulting in the theft of usernames, passwords, and other private information.

In a series of Twitter posts yesterday, the group boasted that it publicly released the information on the Pirate Bay Web site as well as on Pastebin. The attack grabbed the credentials of every Foxconn employee, according to 9to5Mac, including Terry Gou, CEO of parent Hon Hai Industries.

Beyond damaging Foxconn internally, the stolen information could also create trouble for some of the company's technology partners.

"The passwords inside these files could allow individuals to make fraudulent orders under big companies like Microsoft, Apple, IBM, Intel, and Dell," Swagg Security said on its Pastebin page. Be careful ; )"

In response, Foxconn has taken down a Web site (Google cached version) explaining the services it provides to some of its key partners, including Apple, HP, Cisco, and Acer.

The group apparently was able to sneak past Foxconn's security by taking advantage of vulnerabilites in an outdated version of Internet Explorer used by one of the company's workers. Swagg Security even warned its intended victim on January 26 to make sure its browsers were up to date though it didn't name Foxconn as that victim.

Accessing some of the login information, 9to5Mac confirmed that the usernames and passwords did provide access to several Foxconn servers, most of them hosting Intranet sites for company clients.

Why Foxconn? Simple answer.

Swagg Security staged its attack in response to all the reports of poor and demeaning working conditions at the manufacturer's factories across China.

Both Foxconn and Apple have been been hit by

Apple reports on Foxconn, supplier workplace standards

Apple's latest supplier report details actions taken to help Foxconn with worker suicides and other facilities with underage workers.

at the various plants. Both companies have defended themselves, publicly stating that factory worker conditions are of great concern.

Apparently, Foxconn's and Apple's statements haven't been enough to convince the people behind Swagg Security.

"So Foxconn thinks they got 'em some swagger because they work with the Big Boys from Intel, Microsoft, IBM, and Apple? Fool, You don't know what swagger is," the group boasted on its Pastebin page. "They say you got your employees all worked up, committing suicide 'n stuff. They say you hire chinese workers 'cause you think the taiwanese are elite. We got somethin' served up good...real good. Your not gonna' know what hit you by the time you finish this release. Your company gonna' crumble, and you deserve it."

Asked about the breach, a Foxconn spokeswoman told CNET that the company does not comment on matters of internal network security.

This story originally appeared on CNET.

14 Photos

Inside Foxconn, where Apple iPads, iPhones are made

[58kiwi]

The New York Time article and subsequent CBS piece where cheap sensationalistic fluff aimed at the less educated.

I suggest a follow-up article by the Times looking into conditions at non-Apple factories in China comparing work hours, salary against national average, age of employees, and the names US companies using this labour.

Anyone with a high school level understanding of macro economics understands that Apple cannot single-handedly change the working standards and salary levels of Chinese workers. You cannot simply double salaries at one factory. Additionally, salaries are relative and can't be compared to any Western nation without taking into account the local cost of living, housing, etc.

It is not Apple's responsibility to change the socioeconomic conditions of the Chinese labour force. There is little doubt that Chinese workers are subjected to longer working hours and lower salaries than in the west, and conditions can always be improved, but it should be noted that these workers come from all over China for what are regarded as high salaries compared to rural income.

Interviewing one or two ex Foxconn employees about the long hours and tough management culture is ridiculous. You could find the same complaints from ex-employees about most companies including the New York Times. Long hours, tough boss, stress; who hasn't experienced that at some point in their working lives. Life can to tough for the less educated in society regardless of their country of origin.

Those that have taken up this cause and are protesting Apple's "tolerance" of it's supplier's treatment of its Asian employees are incredibly naive. Most will have little information on the actual working conditions at Foxconn, the salaries paid relative to the national average, or Apple's policy on supplier responsibility. Apple hold it's suppliers to some of the highest employee working standards in the world.
One wonders whether the protests directed at Apple over workers rights are truly altruistic or driven by competitor influence? Apple is an easy target as they have chosen to publish the results of there supplier audits. Before we crucify Apple lets just shift our gaze to other US companies using Asian labour and compare working conditions. Let's see their audit reports...what's that? no report?! Wonder why that would be?

[58kiwi]

The New York Time article and subsequent CBS piece where cheap sensationalistic fluff aimed at the less educated.

I suggest a follow-up article by the Times looking into conditions at non-Apple factories in China comparing work hours, salary against national average, age of employees, and the names US companies using this labour.

Anyone with a high school level understanding of macro economics understands that Apple cannot single-handedly change the working standards and salary levels of Chinese workers. You cannot simply double salaries at one factory. Additionally, salaries are relative and can't be compared to any Western nation without taking into account the local cost of living, housing, etc.

It is not Apple's responsibility to change the socioeconomic conditions of the Chinese labour force. There is little doubt that Chinese workers are subjected to longer working hours and lower salaries than in the west, and conditions can always be improved, but it should be noted that these workers come from all over China for what are regarded as high salaries compared to rural income.

Interviewing one or two ex Foxconn employees about the long hours and tough management culture is ridiculous. You could find the same complaints from ex-employees about most companies including the New York Times. Long hours, tough boss, stress; who hasn't experienced that at some point in their working lives. Life can to tough for the less educated in society regardless of their country of origin.

Those that have taken up this cause and are protesting Apple's "tolerance" of it's supplier's treatment of its Asian employees are incredibly naive. Most will have little information on the actual working conditions at Foxconn, the salaries paid relative to the national average, or Apple's policy on supplier responsibility. Apple hold it's suppliers to some of the highest employee working standards in the world.
One wonders whether the protests directed at Apple over workers rights are truly altruistic or driven by competitor influence? Apple is an easy target as they have chosen to publish the results of there supplier audits. Before we crucify Apple lets just shift our gaze to other US companies using Asian labour and compare working conditions. Let's see their audit reports...what's that? no report?! Wonder why that would be?

[Scimajor]

Apparently the hackers are passable at hacking but lacking in the area of basic grammar. Hackers, if you're going to leave a message, make it sound like you're more than 6 years old.