Microsoft: Iran Behind hacked Charlie Hebdo and stole subscribers dates

Security researchers at Microsoft said that a hacking team backed by the Iranian government stole and leaked data belonging to subscribers of the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo

A group of hackers calling themselves "Holy Souls" posted on an online forum that they had gained access to the names and contact information of more than 200,000 Charlie Hebdo subscribers. In its post, the group said it would sell the information for 20 bitcoins ($470,000).

The magazine was hacked in early January after it published a series of negative cartoons of Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Khamenei. The cartoons were part of a media campaign that Charlie Hebdo said was aimed at supporting anti-government protests in Iran.

Iran vowed a response to the offensive cartoons, recalled the French envoy in Tehran, and also ended the activities of the French Institute for Research in Iran and said it was re-evaluating French cultural activities in the country.

Microsoft researchers said:" this information, obtained by the Iranian group, may put subscribers to the magazine at risk of being targeted online or physically by extremist organizations" .