Anonymous hits QLD Govt sites

Hackers strike over data retention plans.

Hackers operating under the banner of Anonymous have defaced a string of Queensland Government web sites in protest against Australia's proposed data retention policies.

The data retention policies would allow the government to force internet providers to store up to two years' worth of a users' online historical data and provide easier access to social networks such as Twitter.

Hackers targeted the Queensland Government web sites yesterday, after Prime Minister Julia Gillard held a online video conference via Google+.

Targeted web sites included those linked to tourism, science and economic development according to the Anonymous Australia Facebook page.

Each politically charged, text-based defacement was removed shortly after news broke of the attacks via the groups @Op_Australia Twitter account and a report on News.com.au.

A Defence spokesperson told News.com.au the Government agencies would receive assistance from the Government's Cyber Security Operations Centre.

Defacements of Australian web sites are a daily occurrence and are considered basic in information security circles. Government sites are typically defaced as part of mass vandalism rather than under acts of hacktivism.