Over 700 Million iCloud Accounts Compromised in Fresh Attack

A massive breach of Apple cloud storage service has compromised more than 700 million accounts. The fresh attack on iCloud has resulted in the unprecedented leak details from up to 717 million users. As proof, those responsible have publicly posted details of a handful of accounts (which we will not be linking to here).

The hack was apparently motivated by a desire to draw attention to the legal plights of Karim Baratov and Kerem Albayrak, the two hackers who are both awaiting trial over the recent Yahoo hack. The hackers, who claim to be Turks living in London, are threatening to wipe millions of iPhones if Apple does not pay a ransom of $150,000 by 7th April.

Hacker news site Meet Hackers received the following statement from the parties responsible for compromising iCloud:

Your Motivation?

We’re doing this because we can, and mainly to spread the awareness for Karim Baratov & Kerem Albayrak. Both of them are being detained for the Yahoo hack and one of them is most probably facing heavy sentencing in America. Kerem Albayrak, on the other hand, is being accused of listing the Yahoo database for sale online.

Are you from Turkey?

Yes, we’re from Turkey but we live in Green Lanes, North London, UK

Is your action somehow politically motivated?

No, we do not follow politics.

Karim Baratov lives in Canada and is currently in custody?

Kerem Albayrak currently either lives in Istanbul or the UK

The statement then added:

“Our entire group isn’t based on this single attack; we’re a new criminal organization with a lot of resources & power.

This is just the start. The amount of databases is growing as more people are getting involved with the group now that it has made it to the news.

It has been bumped up from 519 million to 627 to then 717 million and we’re assured that this number will carry on growing until the day of attack.”