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Cyber crooks tamper with Amazon Forest

Cyber crooks have revealed how far they are prepared to go to cause internet security nightmares for people following revelations that a computer system was compromised and fake permits issued to loggers.

The BBC reports that the cyber crooks have helped loggers cut far more trees than recommended and they may have helped the loggers get as much as 1.7 million cubic metres of illegal timber, based on figures from Greenpeace.

According to the environment campaigner, the hackers, who compromised the online security of a computer system used for monitoring logging in Para, a Brazilian state, were allegedly employed by logging and charcoal companies.

"Almost half of the companies involved in this scam have other law suits pending for environmental crimes or the use of slave labour," said Brazilian federal prosecutor Daniel Avelino in a statement issued by Greenpeace.

The firms believed to have sponsored the cyber crooks are being sued for two billion reals, equivalent to £564 million, which is the estimated value of the illegally sold timber, says the news provider.