# Anti-abortion hackers attack Planned Parenthood, release databases, employee data **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [July 27, 2015, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-abortion-hackers-attack-planned-parenthood-release-databases-employee-data/726334 "2015-07-27T17:59:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2015, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-abortion-hackers-attack-planned-parenthood-release-databases-employee-data/726334/1 "2015-07-27T17:59:14Z")
> **[Planned Parenthood hacked, database dumped online](https://www.dailydot.com/debug/planned-parenthood-hacked-anti-abortion-3301/)** > > Planned Parenthood is having a rough month. > [@](#): > > Planned Parenthood has been hacked. > > Late Sunday night, a group of hackers who oppose the healthcare nonprofit’s abortion practices released Planned Parenthood’s website databases as well as names and email addresses of the organization’s employees. These assholes have now put employees in danger from violent extremists, which I have little doubt is their intent. If anyone is hurt because of this bullshit, these hacker assholes are at the very least morally responsible. I’m not sure about their criminal responsibility. I would hope that there is some (beyond the obvious hacking charges). This is, at least indirectly, encouraging terrorism. ---
**Author:** ![Merneith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Merneith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merneith)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2015, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-abortion-hackers-attack-planned-parenthood-release-databases-employee-data/726334/2 "2015-07-27T18:11:25Z")
This _is_ terrorism. They want to terrorize people into quitting their jobs at PP and intimidate patients into thinking that their confidentiality is threatened. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2015, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-abortion-hackers-attack-planned-parenthood-release-databases-employee-data/726334/3 "2015-07-27T18:57:46Z")
Would be great if Anonymous tracked down the hackers and posted _their_ contact info. ---
**Author:** ![CinnamonBabka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bbce88/32.png) [@CinnamonBabka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CinnamonBabka)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2015, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-abortion-hackers-attack-planned-parenthood-release-databases-employee-data/726334/4 "2015-07-27T19:16:31Z")
> [@Merneith](#): > > This _is_ terrorism. They want to terrorize people into quitting their jobs at PP and intimidate patients into thinking that their confidentiality is threatened. I agree. What frustrates me is that people don’t feel the same way about the Ashley Madison hack. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2015, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-abortion-hackers-attack-planned-parenthood-release-databases-employee-data/726334/5 "2015-07-27T19:20:37Z")
> [@CinnamonBabka](#): > > I agree. What frustrates me is that people don’t feel the same way about the Ashley Madison hack. The Ashley Madison hack is another example. It won’t be likely to expose people to violent radicals (maybe violent spouses), but it can certainly have a major negative influence on their lives in more ways than one. ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2015, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-abortion-hackers-attack-planned-parenthood-release-databases-employee-data/726334/6 "2015-07-28T01:11:28Z")
[Sucks when things like that happen, I know.](http://www.cnn.com/2012/12/25/us/new-york-gun-permit-map/) It’s nobody’s business. That’s what “privacy” means. ---
**Author:** ![Merneith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Merneith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merneith)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2015, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-abortion-hackers-attack-planned-parenthood-release-databases-employee-data/726334/7 "2015-07-28T01:27:06Z")
Is there, in fact, a constitutional right to privacy for people who hold gun permits? Are there laws protecting the privacy of gun license holders comparable to laws regarding medical privacy? No. Of course not. But hey, when all else fails, play the “liberals do it, too” card! That one never fails to derail a conversation about right-wing terrorism. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2015, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-abortion-hackers-attack-planned-parenthood-release-databases-employee-data/726334/8 "2015-07-28T01:46:10Z")
I’m not entirely comfortable with The Journal News publishing that list, but the gun permit info is publicly available information so it’s not exactly the same thing. If you register a gun, you should have no expectation of privacy. Also, I’m not aware of any radicals who go around targeting gun owners for murder. I hope this thread won’t be hijacked into some sort of silly tu quoque thing. If you want to try to justify what these hackers did to Planned Parenthood, then give your reasons. If you want to pit The Journal News for what they did, start your own thread. For that matter, the Ashley Madison thing probably belongs in it’s own thread also. ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2015, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-abortion-hackers-attack-planned-parenthood-release-databases-employee-data/726334/9 "2015-07-28T01:59:43Z")
> [@davidm](#): > > If you want to try to justify what these hackers did to Planned Parenthood, then give your reasons. I didn’t try, nor will I. It’s an unconscionable violation of privacy, hence the second part of the post. That said, I consider the gun list publication a violation of privacy as well, with the potential for similar consequences (home invasions, work-related problems, etc.). Arguing about the degree of the violation is just splitting hairs. But, to assuage the hurt feelings of **Merneith** , I will concede that one list is public record, though published for dubious reasons, and one was stolen by nefarious parties for despicable reasons. I trust that will end the matter. ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2015, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-abortion-hackers-attack-planned-parenthood-release-databases-employee-data/726334/10 "2015-07-28T02:05:47Z")
> [@Merneith](#): > > This _is_ terrorism. They want to terrorize people into quitting their jobs at PP and intimidate patients into thinking that their confidentiality is threatened. Well it demonstrably \*is \*threatened. No intimidation about it. ---
**Author:** ![bengangmo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@bengangmo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bengangmo)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2015, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-abortion-hackers-attack-planned-parenthood-release-databases-employee-data/726334/11 "2015-07-28T02:11:09Z")
> [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](#): > > [Sucks when things like that happen, I know.](http://www.cnn.com/2012/12/25/us/new-york-gun-permit-map/) > > It’s nobody’s business. That’s what “privacy” means. Err… that information was obtained legally through publicly available sources. And I could be wrong, but I don’t see any violent anti-gun extremists going round to gun owner homes and drowning them to death in portable swimming pools that they have a permit for. ---
**Author:** ![Merneith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Merneith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merneith)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2015, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-abortion-hackers-attack-planned-parenthood-release-databases-employee-data/726334/12 "2015-07-28T03:03:04Z")
> [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](#): > > But, to assuage the hurt feelings of **Merneith** , I will concede that one list is public record, though published for dubious reasons, and one was stolen by nefarious parties for despicable reasons. I trust that will end the matter. Yeah. I’m a woman and I’m emotional because you hurt my poor, sad, fee-fees. That has to be it. It couldn’t possibly be that your transparent bullshit is stinking up the joint. ---
**Author:** ![bengangmo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@bengangmo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bengangmo)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2015, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-abortion-hackers-attack-planned-parenthood-release-databases-employee-data/726334/13 "2015-07-28T04:02:56Z")
> [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](#): > > I didn’t try, nor will I. It’s an unconscionable violation of privacy, hence the second part of the post. > > That said, I consider the gun list publication a violation of privacy as well, with the potential for similar consequences (home invasions, work-related problems, etc.). Arguing about the degree of the violation is just splitting hairs. > > But, to assuage the hurt feelings of **Merneith** , I will concede that one list is public record, though published for dubious reasons, and one was stolen by nefarious parties for despicable reasons. I trust that will end the matter. Home invasions? I thought criminals knowing there was a gun in the house was supposed to be a DETERRENT for home invasions? ---
**Author:** ![RagingxMarmoset](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@RagingxMarmoset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RagingxMarmoset)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2015, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-abortion-hackers-attack-planned-parenthood-release-databases-employee-data/726334/14 "2015-07-28T13:48:04Z")
> [@bengangmo](#): > > Home invasions? > > I thought criminals knowing there was a gun in the house was supposed to be a DETERRENT for home invasions? Lols. I have guns, but that’s not going to stop a determined criminal. Mostly I lock my doors, make the place look occupied, and have a big, stupid dog. Back on track: Why does it seem so easy to breach data security and obtain all this information? How is it the hackers are smarter than everyone making data security products? ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2015, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-abortion-hackers-attack-planned-parenthood-release-databases-employee-data/726334/15 "2015-07-28T14:19:52Z")
The Man works eight hours a day, the outlaw, twenty four seven three sixty five. ---
**Author:** ![Kinthalis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kinthalis/32/16084_2.png) [@Kinthalis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kinthalis)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2015, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-abortion-hackers-attack-planned-parenthood-release-databases-employee-data/726334/16 "2015-07-28T14:27:11Z")
> [@bengangmo](#): > > Home invasions? > > I thought criminals knowing there was a gun in the house was supposed to be a DETERRENT for home invasions? First they took our jerbs, now the’re after our gurns! Those damn liberals. ---
**Author:** ![Death\_of\_Rats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a6a055/32.png) [@Death\_of\_Rats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Death_of_Rats)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2015, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-abortion-hackers-attack-planned-parenthood-release-databases-employee-data/726334/17 "2015-07-28T14:29:08Z")
> [@RagingxMarmoset](#): > > Back on track: Why does it seem so easy to breach data security and obtain all this information? How is it the hackers are smarter than everyone making data security products? Because the Security people have to stop every attack, the hackers only have to get lucky once. Hacking is mostly one of two things: having enough inside information to get around the security or having the patience to keep attacking the system (usually via bots) until you find a crack to exploit or stumble on an opening. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2015, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-abortion-hackers-attack-planned-parenthood-release-databases-employee-data/726334/18 "2015-07-28T14:33:33Z")
> [@RagingxMarmoset](#): > > Back on track: Why does it seem so easy to breach data security and obtain all this information? How is it the hackers are smarter than everyone making data security products? Short answer - because a computer system that is completely secure is a computer system that is completely physically isolated from the internet, and even then you have to factor in human error. We had some security consultants in a month or so ago who did a presentation on hacking and the gist of it is that determined hackers **will** get in eventually unless you’ve got dedicated anti-hacker resources (and often even then). They had done a security test on our own system and had gotten into absolutely everything. ---
**Author:** ![Debaser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3da27b/32.png) [@Debaser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Debaser)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2015, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-abortion-hackers-attack-planned-parenthood-release-databases-employee-data/726334/19 "2015-07-28T14:50:38Z")
> [@davidm](#): > > If you register a gun, you should have no expectation of privacy. What? Why in the world not? Look, what these hackers did with the PP hack is wrong and you can have fun with your RO thread about it. But owning a gun is a constitutional right. People exercising that right should absolutely not be considered some kind of second class citizens that have no privacy. ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2015, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-abortion-hackers-attack-planned-parenthood-release-databases-employee-data/726334/20 "2015-07-28T15:01:02Z")
> [@Merneith](#): > > But hey, when all else fails, play the “liberals do it, too” card! That one never fails to derail a conversation about right-wing terrorism. Except this isnt right wing terrorism. Pro life people run the political gamut. Also, the Snowden leaks were claimed to lead to deaths [http://www.rt.com/usa/intel-hearing-snowden-threats-369/](http://www.rt.com/usa/intel-hearing-snowden-threats-369/) so I guess that was terrorism too. This is the brand new world. Either pit hacking or live with the consequences when it happens to causes you support. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-abortion-hackers-attack-planned-parenthood-release-databases-employee-data/726334.md?page=2)