Support for Hong Kong's pro-democracy protesters has been extended outside the city and into cyberspace. Anonymous group on Wednesday threatened to disrupt the Hong Kong SAR Government's web-based assests in response to the treatment of local protesters.
US-based News2share on Wednesday received a video from the Anonymous group threatening to pull the web sites of the Hong Kong Police Force and other government web-based assets offline. Anonymous has also threatened to access the government databases and emails, if the protesters are being attacked.
“To the Hong Kong police and any others that are called to the protests, we are watching you very closely and have already begun to wage war on you for your inhumane actions against your own citizens. If you continue to abuse, harass or harm protesters, we will continue to deface and take every web-based asset of your government off-line. That is not a threat. It is a promise,” Anonymous stated in the video.
No abnormality identified
The Hong Kong Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (OGCIO) told Computerworld Hong Kong on Thursday evening that “the government information systems are now operating normally, no abnormality was identified.”
The OGCIO stated over the email that it has formulated comprehensive security regulations, policies, guidelines and procedures on information security for different bureaus and departments (B/Ds).
“In the event of security incidents, including hacking, relevant B/Ds need to inform the Government Information Security Incident Response Office (GIRO) immediately and submit the incident investigation reports,” added the OGCIO.
“We are also keeping close monitoring on the situation to ensure the normal operations of Government information systems,” stated OGCIO. “When necessary, we will adopt necessary measures timely to defend any cyber attacks.”
The OGCIO did not explain or detail what these "necessary measures" are.