Hackers claiming have the source code of Symantec’s pcAnywhere through bittorrent to distribute, while Symantec would have offered to the thieves of the source code the $ 50,000 to pay for it. The theft would already be in 2006 have taken place.
Symantec has not yet confirmed whether it is really to the source code. Meanwhile, it is on Pastebin an email thread appeared between an employee of Symantec and the thieves of the source code. Symantec would give the attackers the $ 50,000 offer. The authenticity of the conversation has not been confirmed, but this would be in January and February have taken place.
The conversation was becoming stiffer. The thieves, who according to Symantec are part of Anonymous, accused Symantec of it to work together with the FBI. Although Symantec in the conversation denies it, that was indeed the case. Symantec wanted the thieves in the first months of $ 2500 per month payment. If they are after three months are still at their word kept, they would be the remaining amount. Therefore they had to be a declaration issue in which they claim to have lied about the stealing of the source code. Probably wanted to Symantec thus his reputation to protect.
The thieves lost their patience, it appears from the conversation; Symantec would be too slow to act. The company wanted guarantees, such as the inspection of certain files in order to confirm that it is indeed for source code of Symantec and Norton. The payment had problems. Eventually threatened the attackers the code to sell on the internet. Why the source code is now visible to everyone on the internet is placed, is unknown.
Previously advised by Symantec users to pcAnywhere, which allows users on remote computers to manage, disable, unless the use was necessary. Users of version 12.0, 12.1 and 12.5 would be an increased risk. If the source code is leaked out, would the attackers the code can be inspected for vulnerabilities.