Microsoft has refuted the claims made by the hacktivist group “Anonymous Sudan” regarding a successful breach of the company’s servers and the theft of 30 million customer account credentials. Anonymous Sudan has been known for launching distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks against Western entities and has acknowledged its affiliation with pro-Russian hacktivists. Although Microsoft previously confirmed Anonymous Sudan’s responsibility for service disruptions and outages, the company firmly denies any data breach allegations.
Anonymous Sudan’s Claim and Offer:
The hacktivist group proclaimed that they had successfully hacked Microsoft and gained access to an extensive database containing millions of Microsoft accounts, including emails and passwords. They announced their intention to sell this database for $50,000 and provided a small sample of compromised data as proof. However, the origin and authenticity of this data sample still need to be verified, raising doubts about the credibility of their claims.
(Image: CyberSpecta)
Microsoft’s Response:
Upon contact, a Microsoft spokesperson categorically denied the validity of the breach claims made by Anonymous Sudan. The company stated that its analysis of the data presented by the hacktivists indicates that the claim is not legitimate and merely an aggregation of existing data. Microsoft emphasized that no evidence has been found to suggest that customer data has been accessed or compromised.
Background on Anonymous Sudan:
Anonymous Sudan has previously targeted Microsoft, causing disruptions to services such as Azure, Outlook, and OneDrive. Microsoft identified the group, “Storm-1359,” responsible for launching Layer 7 DDoS attacks in June. These attacks were attributed to the group’s access to a collection of botnets and tools, which it employs for disruption and publicity purposes. While Anonymous Sudan has claimed responsibility for previous cyber-attacks, experts have raised suspicions about potential false-flag campaigns aimed at sowing discord and fueling anti-Swedish sentiments.
Microsoft Assurances:
Microsoft reassured its customers that no signs of compromise or unauthorized access to customer data had been found. The company maintains that the claims made by Anonymous Sudan are baseless and lack verifiable evidence. Despite ongoing investigations, Microsoft’s official stance remains resolute that customer data has not been breached or compromised.
Conclusion:
Anonymous Sudan’s assertion of a successful breach of Microsoft’s servers and the subsequent sale of customer data has been met with a strong denial from Microsoft. While Anonymous Sudan has previously caused disruptions to Microsoft services, the company asserts that no evidence supports the hacktivists’ claims. Microsoft continues to investigate the situation, and the potential release of data by Anonymous Sudan remains uncertain. Currently, Microsoft maintains the safety and integrity of its customers’ data.
