iPhone maker Foxconn hacked by mysterious 'Swagg Security' group

A mysterious new group of hackers calling themselves "Swagg Security" claimed this week that they had hacked iPhone and Xbox 360 manufacturer Foxconn, a Chinese factory complex known for its harsh working conditions.

The hackers were able to gain access to every single employee's secure network credentials, publishing them online in a Torrent file for the whole Internet to see.

In an explanation published online, the hackers explained they were attacking Foxconn after recent reports that workers threatened a mass suicide for better wages piqued their interest.

"So Foxconn thinks they got 'em some swagger because they work with the Big Boys from Intel, Microsoft, IBM, and Apple?" the hackers wrote. "Fool, You don't know what swagger is. 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."

Mac technology blog 9to5Mac last night checked out some of the network credentials published by Swag Security and found that they were still active on multiple servers. Foxconn's secure login portal was taken offline shortly thereafter, they said.

But it wasn't the workers' conditions, or even the forthcoming release of a new iPhone, that prompted the attack, the group explained. It was simply the "hilarity" of watching the company's network infrastructure crumble.

"Now as a first impression Swagg Security would rather not deceive the public of our intentions," they wrote. "Although we are considerably disappointed of the conditions of Foxconn, we are not hacking a corporation for such a reason and although we are slightly interested in the existence of an Iphone 5, we are not hacking for this reason. We hack for the cyberspace who share a few common viewpoints and philosophies. We enjoy exposing governments and corporations, but the more prominent reason, is the hilarity that ensues when compromising and destroying an infrastructure. How unethical right?"

They conclude by saying they are not "hacktivists" like members of "Anonymous," but "Greyhats" who simply enjoy hacking for the menacing thrill of it. "Remember damage is bliss," they wrote in the sign-off.

The hack allegedly exposed all of Foxconn's workers' secure login credentials. While it's not clear exactly how many that is, Foxconn said last year it planned to replace up to 1 million of its workers with robots in the coming years -- meaning there's a nearly unprecedented network security clean up job on their plate following the breach.

(H/T: CNet)