Montreal F1 ticket-buyers hacked by Anonymous

Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone said he isn't aware of any cyber threats against ticket holders for the upcoming Montreal Grand Prixrace.

More than 130 people who bought F1 Montreal tickets received threatening emails warning them not to attend the race.

Their personal information was also leaked online, including names, phones numbers, email addresses and theprices they paid for their tickets.

International internet activist group Anonymous has claimed responsibility for the hacking attack.

When contacted by CBC News, Ecclestone said he wasn't aware of any internet security problems, and suggested people contact authorities.

"If someone is threatening them, they should report it to the police," he said Thursday, when reached on his cellphone. "I don't think it's a nice thing for people to do."

Threatening emails were sent to some of the people whose information was leaked.

CBC contacted several people on the list who confirmed all the information posted about them was correct.

Anonymous had threatened to go after the Montreal F1 race as part of its campaign against the Quebec government over Bill 78, theemergency legislation adopted May 18to temper nearly 3 months ofstudent protests over tuition hikes.

Threat invokes sportsmanship

Aweb posting accompanying the F1 data leak says, in French, "Anonymousis teaching you to respect sport. Sport's greatest wealth isn't money but freedom.

Today, Anonymous reminds us of the importance of sportsmanship, which you have debasedbyyour corrupt and authoritarian society."

The message goes on to say that "the Formula One Grand Prix in Quebec will be embarrassing. Anonymous supports sporting events around the world, but they must uphold the sporting spirit, and thus upholdpeople's equalityand liberty."

'Very upsetting'

One of the people whose information was posted, Andres Hurtado of Calgary, confirmed that hespent close to $500on tickets for the Montreal F1 race weekend, which takes placeJune 8-10.

"Its very upsetting that theywant todisrupt something like this, kind of an international event, to show whatever their purpose is," Hurtado said. "I agree that they can freely protest, but when it comes down to something like this I dont even live in Montreal and Im getting attacked by this!"

Frank Thoeringer of MacTier, Ont., was upset to learn his private information had been posted online, but he was even more upset at getting an email urging him not to attend the race.

The "Notice to Grand Prix Visitors" was sent to Thoeringer about 2:30 a.m. Thursday and suggests those who were planning a trip to Montreal to watch the race shouldreconsider it. The email describes the city as an "epicentre of escalating social war" sparked by the student strike.

"Do not fool yourself into thinking that you can avoid or contain us, or that the police will protect you from our makeshift weapons. There is nowhere to hide. We know every street, every alley, every park. We know where you will sleep, where you will shop and where you will drink. We have been planning to crash your party for some time now," the email reads.

Thoeringer said while the email is pretty scary, he and family members still plan to attend the F1 race.

"I am coming to Montreal I enjoy Formula One," the 24-year-old told CBC News.

MikyoButler, a technology analyst from Boston, said hedidn't know much about Anonymous but gave thegroup thebenefit of the doubt that it had "good intentions"behind itsactions.

"It's certainly something that can raise awareness, on the one hand. On the other hand, I dont feel great about having my info compromised,"he said.

Hurtado and Butler bought their tickets in March, butin recent weeks,ticketsales have sloweddue to the unrest in Quebecfrom the student crisis,Montreal Grand Prix organizers said Wednesday.

"For several weeks, ticket sales have been very low, nothing like what we normally see," raceboss Franois Dumontier told CBC's French-language service.

Anonymous's previousoffensives against the Quebec government temporarily downed several ministries' websites and arethought tohaveshut downthe Quebec Liberal Party's site as well.

Earlier this week,thehacker collectiveposted online a two-hour-long private video of Quebec Premier Jean Charest and other dignitaries, including former prime ministers Jean Chrtien and Brian Mulroney and former U.S. president George H.W. Bush, hobnobbing withcorporate and politicalelites at anopulentbirthday party for Jacqueline Desmarais, wife of Power Corp.ex-CEO Paul Desmarais.

The video, filmed at the Desmarais family's estate in Quebec's Charlevoix region, captures a sumptuous, multimillion-dollarwhite-tie affair involving performances by a symphony orchestra, singing from Quebecrocker Robert Charlebois and tenor Marc Hervieux, anddozens of cabaret performers, kitchen staff andvalets.