New Zealand. Telco pulls plug on teen hacker

One and a half million cellphone users are being warned to disable the optional voicemail PIN feature on their phones after a teenage hacker tapped into messages belonging to police, defence staff and politicians, reports The New Zealand Herald.

"Auckland Mayor Dick Hubbard, police communications staff and internal affairs, and CIB officers are some of those who have fallen victim to the hacker.

The principle the hacker used applies to landlines as well as cellphones so Telecom is contacting its 1.5 million cellphone and 1.4 million landline customers with urgent security advice.

Telecom spokesman Mr Goulter said this was the first instance Telecom was aware of someone tapping into customers' messages in New Zealand and the company was seeking international advice.

emily | 10:07 AM | Spam, Viruses and Hoaxes |
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