HBGary CEO steps down after Anonymous breach
HBGary's CEO resigns after Anonymous leaks emails stolen from the security firm.


HBGary chief executive (CEO) Aaron Barr has decided to step down following the Anonymous attacks on the company.
Barr said he wanted the company to be able to move on following its data breach, after which the 'hacktivists' leaked tens of thousands of HBGary emails.
Anonymous also defaced HBGary's website and gained control over Rootkit.com, a site launched by HBGary founder Greg Hoglund.
The security firm recently pulled out of the US RSA Conference, claiming it had received threats of violence from Anonymous members.
"I need to focus on taking care of my family and rebuilding my reputation," Barr told Kaspersky Lab's Threatpost.
"It's been a challenge to do that and run a company. And, given that I've been the focus of much of bad press, I hope that, by leaving, HBGary and HBGary Federal can get away from some of that."
Barr was confident HBGary would be able to weather the storm it was currently under.
Get the ITPro daily newsletter
Sign up today and you will receive a free copy of our Future Focus 2025 report - the leading guidance on AI, cybersecurity and other IT challenges as per 700+ senior executives
The spat between Anonymous and HBGary started when Barr told the Financial Times he had discovered the identities of senior members of the hacktivist group.
The group responded instantly, infiltrating HBGary's network and website, as well as Barr's Twitter account.
Anonymous was also angered by Hoglund, who was acting as chief operating officer of HBGary but now appears to be CEO, according to the company's site. There is no mention of Barr on the site either.
Hoglund had reportedly been pushing legal action against Anonymous.
Tom Brewster is currently an associate editor at Forbes and an award-winning journalist who covers cyber security, surveillance, and privacy. Starting his career at ITPro as a staff writer and working up to a senior staff writer role, Tom has been covering the tech industry for more than ten years and is considered one of the leading journalists in his specialism.
He is a proud alum of the University of Sheffield where he secured an undergraduate degree in English Literature before undertaking a certification from General Assembly in web development.
-
What is polymorphic malware?
Explainer Polymorphic malware constantly changes its code to avoid detection, making it a top cybersecurity threat that demands advanced, behavior-based defenses
-
Outgoing Kaseya CEO teases "this is just the beginning" for the company
Opinion We spoke to Fred Voccola who remains a key figurehead at the firm as it enters its next chapter...
-
Anonymous hijacks Russian broadcasts with footage of Ukraine war
News The hacking group said it managed to manipulate the broadcasts of three major Russian state-backed media organisations
-
Homeland Security warns businesses of Oracle and SAP ERP vulnerabilities
News Oracle and SAP urge customers to apply patches to secure systems against hackers
-
Most CEOs steal IP from previous employers
News Emotionally-driven decisions put companies at risk, finds security report
-
70% of UK bosses have no training to deal with cyber attacks
News Britain's business leaders are woefully underprepared for breaches, report shows
-
Three foolproof ways CEOs and CISOs can work together more effectively
In-depth How involved is your Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) in business decisions?
-
CEO's pay should be linked to security performance, says government committee
News New report recommends that CEOs be held directly accountable for data breaches
-
Anonymous hackers flood ISIS Twitter accounts with gay porn after Orlando shooting
News Hacktivists hijack pro-ISIS Twitter accounts in retaliation for Orlando massacre
-
Anonymous takes down Nissan in dolphin culling protest
News The hacker group launched a DDoS attack on the company's global and Japanese websites