SALT LAKE CITY (ABC 4 News) - The Salt Lake City police department admits there are a lot of people who could be in danger after a hacker shut down the department's website Tuesday night.
Wednesday evening, the department sent out an email saying citizen complaints and tips were taken from the system. That means the hacker has phone numbers, addresses, and names of people who tipped off police. It also means the hacker has information on confidential informants, and even undercover detectives.
The action by a member of
the Anonymous activist group was a response to an anti-graffiti paraphernalia bill being discussed in the state legislature.ABC 4 was tipped off Tuesday that this may be the case. The alleged hacker was talking about the situation on twitter. So we contacted him to find out what kind of information he might have. He responded:
“Anonymous tips, job applications, confidential informant info, narcotics ring operation information."
When we asked him what he planned to do with the info, he said:
"I will not be releasing the anonymous tips and other confidential data from the site. Not out to endanger innocent people"
Still, people in the community said this new information makes them weary about calling police with tips in the future.
“It will make me think more than twice, I mean they could find where I live I have kids that's pretty dangerous," said Nannette Martinez.
And Nathan Cheshire said, "It makes me kind of second guess it, yeah if that information is safe or not."
ABC 4 tried all evening Wednesday to talk with Salt Lake City Police about the issue with no success.
