Cambridge University NullCrew hacking claim investigated

An investigation has been launched after a group which supports WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange claimed to have hacked Cambridge University computer systems.

The group named NullCrew, linked to the computer hacking network Anonymous, said it had targeted several university departments and broken into databases.

The group published details of what appear to be user names and passwords online with the message: "There is much more where this came from, and don't think this is the end.

"NullCrew, along with the whole Anonymous movement, isn't near finished with you. And we never will be, until the right thing is done with Julian Assange.

"Next time it will be worse, we guarantee it."

The information published by the hackers appears to include 17 login details of academics in the Centre for Research in the Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities.

Others believed to be targeted were the Sector of Biological and Soft Systems, the Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology and the Centre for Applied Research in Educational Technologies.

A spokesman for the university said: "A group calling itself 'NullCrew' claims to have obtained login details for some web based resources hosted on university systems.

"As a preventative measure these have been taken offline while IT staff investigate the claims.

"The hacking group itself has not claimed to have compromised the email login details of members of the university, and there is no evidence to substantiate such a suggestion."

PA