AT&T Plans to Prosecute iPad Hackers

AT&T recently announced that it plans to prosecute hackers who stole e-mail addresses of more than 100,000 iPad users from its corporate servers.

(Gawkwire.com) - AT&T recently announced that it plans to prosecute hackers who stole e-mail addresses of more than 100,000 iPad users from its corporate servers.

In a recent e-mail to iPad users affected by the breach, chief privacy officer Dorothy Attwood said AT&T "does not tolerate unauthorized access to its customers' information or company websites."

"We will cooperate with law enforcement in any investigation of unauthorized system access and to prosecute violators to the fullest extent of the law," Attwood said.

Last week, the FBI learned that the breach was admittedly carried out by "researchers" at a French group called Goatse Security.

Goatse members said they were merely attempting to point out security vulnerabilities that could threaten iPad owners.

On the contrary, Attwood, called Goatse's actions malicious. "The hackers deliberately went to great efforts" to obtain iPad owners' e-mail addresses, she said.

The list of iPad users whose data may have been compromised includes high-profile celebrities, politicians, and athletes. New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, and producer Harvey Weinstein were reportedly among the victims.

Many belive that this incident will place further strain on the partnership between Apple and AT&T. Many analysts speculate that Apple will soon end its exclusivity deal with AT&T and open up its devices to additional carriers.