What was the HBGary hack?

In 2011 the online group Anonymous launched an attack on the company HBGary, a US security contractor. Within a short period of time they were able to gain access to HBGary’s servers. The company’s private emails and private user account data were published and it’s website was defaced. The HBGary hack provides an excellent example of how a motivated group of hackers can combine social engineering attacks with attacks aimed at software vulnerabilities—​to devastating effect. (Note that this discussion is in no way condoning this or any hack.) Credits: Talking: Geoffrey Challen (Assistant Professor, Computer Science and Engineering, University at Buffalo). Producing: Greg Bunyea (Undergraduate, Computer Science and Engineering, University at Buffalo). Part of the online internet course. A blue Systems Research Group () production.