Anonymous To Release Documents Showing �Virtual Armies� Used To Identify Dissidents

Members of the international hacking group Anonymous claim to have documents and e-mails that put Virginia-based consulting company Booz Allen Hamilton at the center of accusations of developing software used against dissidents in countries including Azerbaijan. Spokespeople at Booz Allen could not be reached for comment on the phone or via e-mail. Anonymous adviser Barrett Brown claimed on the group"s Radio Payback show earlier today that the software had led to rebels in Azerbaijan, where Booz Allen has offices, getting arrested. The software creates "armies of fake people" through social media sites like Facebook, he said, which results in identifying dissidents with anonymous profiles, a method also known as astroturfing. The information came to light through thousands of e-mails belonging to software security firm HBGary"s former CEO, Aaron Barr, who"s accounts were hacked by supporters of Anonymous after he claimed to have identified members of the group by (ironically) using fake profiles on social media. Another member of the group known as Topiary says the information, which it promises to release within the next few hours, does not amount to "solid proof" but comes from informants who have worked closely with companies involved and can confirm that Booz Allen created the software, having allegedly won a contract with the U.S. Air Force. The hacker was also unsure if Booz Allen sold the software to the government of Azerbaijan or was using it on its behalf, but believes it may also have been used in Iraq. "We know the U.S. Air Force and the Pentagon asked for it, we do know that Booz Allen and Aaron Barr [of HBGary] bid for the contract, we"ve got confirmation from Booz Allen themselves that the software exists," he claims. Booz Allen Hamilton is a technology and engineering consultancy that provides services primarily to the U.S. government in the defense, intelligence, and civil sectors, as well as corporations, institutions, and nonprofit organization, according to its web site. "This entire thing is a result of leverage from the leaked HBGary emails," says Topiary, "which was a result of leverage from an infiltrated Google Mail App of HBGary Federal, which was a result of leverage from Aaron Barr using the same password twice."

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