A publishing company has revealed its computer network was hit by a cyber-attack in which Apple users' details were allegedly taken, and not an FBI laptop as hackers claimed previously.
Last week hackers from the group AntiSec posted a link to 1m unique device identification numbers (UDIDs) – including iPhones and iPads – it said were stolen from an FBI agent working with the non-profit National Cyber-Forensics and Training Alliance.
But Florida-based BlueToad, which offers digital version of magazines and newspapers to mobile and tablet users, has said it was the source victim of the hack attack.
Boss Paul DeHart blogged: "A little more than a week ago, BlueToad was the victim of a criminal cyber-attack, which resulted in the theft of Apple UDIDs from our systems.
"Although we successfully defend against thousands of cyber-attacks each day, this determined criminal attack ultimately resulted in a breach to a portion of our systems.
"When we discovered that we were the likely source of the information in question, we immediately reached out to law enforcement to inform them and to cooperate with their ongoing criminal investigation of the parties responsible for the criminal attack and the posting of the stolen information."
Hackers' had claimed that they were in possession of up to 12m UDIDs taken from the FBI but the agency denied any of its own computers were breached.
"The FBI is aware of published reports alleging that an FBI laptop was compromised and private data regarding Apple UDIDs was exposed," the agency said last week.
"At this time, there is no evidence indicating that an FBI laptop was compromised or that the FBI either sought or obtained this data."
AntiSec has been regularly linked to Anonymous, which - along with another offshoot called Lulz Security - has been tied to a number of high-profile computer attacks and crimes, including many that were meant to embarrass governments and corporations.
The FBI has not commented on the BlueToad disclosure but Anonymous hackers have cast doubt on the posting by BlueToad's boss.
Anonymous tweeted: "Two comments: Re: FBI-Notebook - There still is no evidence. Stay tuned."
