Bush family emails hacked

The Secret Service is investigating - as well they might. Some of the personal information in the emails is very sensitive.

ABC News:

Former president George H.W. Bush was the victim of a computer hacker who gained access to confidential emails and other electronic correspondence between members of the Bush family and friends, the U.S. Secret Service confirmed to ABC News.

Authorities have begun an investigation into the incident, a spokesman for Bush told ABC News. The spokesman could not confirm the content of the emails that were hacked.

"The Secret Service is investigating this matter," said Secret Service spokesman Ed Donovan.

The unidentified hacker claims to have gained access to three years of personal emails dating back to 2009. The hacker has posted several of the personal photos online, including one of the elder Bush in the hospital.

The hacked material also includes telephone numbers, home addresses for dozens of Bush family members, including both former presidents. It also includes the security code for George W. Bush's home in Dallas.

It makes one wonder if some day, we are going to expend more resources on preventing hacking than in online content. It's like an arms race with the hackers always staying one step ahead of the anti-hackers.

Personally, I think hackers have the emotional maturity of adolescents and do what they do to inflict pain on people. There is little difference between a hacker gaining access to your most personal information and a burglar breaking into your home. Both crimes violate privacy and should be treated equally.