(Image source: Symantec)

BY EMILY ALLEN

ANCHOR ANA COMPAIN-ROMERO

Computer software company Symantec’s hostage has been released from the hands of the Lords of Dharamaja – a group affiliated with Anonymous.  Unfortunately, the hostage is the source code for it’s PCAnywhere program and it was released to the company and the public.  Here’s KABC.  

“PCAnywhere allows users to log in remotely to access home or work computers.  A hacker has posted the source could for that version online.  That code would allow other hackers to take control of those PCs.”

Engadget reports the code was posted after negotiations broke down between the hacker, under the alias YamaTough, and law enforcement pretending to be a Symantec worker.

“Neither side negotiated in good faith - YamaTough always intended to release the code, and law enforcement was doing the talking for Symantec to catch him and his hacking cohorts.”

CNBC was surprised Yamatough wanted only $50,000 from Symantec before giving the source code back to the software company.  But then again...

“$50,000 will go a long way when you sit in a bathrobe behind a computer for days and days.  You just need some new clothes, new underwear.”

Symantec released patches for the program earlier this month to protect it’s customers and told Forbes it’s customers are safe.

Symantec’s spokesperson would not tell Forbes if law enforcement had any success tracking down the hackers or what the company’s future looks like.

But CBS said the company has a vague idea of what lies ahead.  The hackers also snatched the codes for some of Symantec’s other programs.  CBS quotes a statement released by the company on Tuesday.

“We also anticipate that at some point, they [YamaTough] will post the code for the 2006 versions of Norton Antivirus Corporate Edition and Norton Internet Security. As we have already stated publicly, this is old code, and Symantec and Norton customers will not be at an increased risk.”

The Christian Science Monitor says one thing is certain - quote “the hack certainly leaves Symantec with a public relations mess on its hands.”