Hackers linked with international hactivist group Anonymous have reportedly attacked several websites belonging to Australian businesses and Philippine government agencies.
Anonymous Indonesia, one of the groups, tweeted a list of over 100 Australian websites on Twitter it had hacked, claiming the motive was in response to reports of snooping by Australia.
Reports also reveal that Australian embassies across Asia had been part of the US NSA surveillance programme, while China has sought an explanation from the US following the allegations.
Hackers have also targeted the Philippine government’s websites with a message asking support for a protest that would eliminate ‘pork barrel funds’, according to Reuters.
Anonymous Philippines posted on Facebook: "We apologise for this inconvenience, but this is the easiest way we could convey our message to you, our dear brothers and sisters who are tired of this cruelty and this false democracy, tired of this government and the politicians who only think about themselves."
The US spying agency was accused of spying on ex-Mexican President Felipe Calderon’s email account in 2010, while Brazil has also revealed plans to develop secure and encrypted email service after the US agency snooped into e-mails of Brazil President Dilma Rousseff.