A security breach that exposed the email addresses of thousands of users of Apple Inc.'s iPad has sparked a probe by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The move came after AT&T which provides wireless service for the tablet device, acknowledged there was a security flaw on its Web site had exposed the e-mail addresses of many customers who purchased the iPad, which Apple first made available for sale two months ago.
"The FBI is aware of these possible computer intrusions and has opened an investigation to address a potential cyber-threat," Lindsay Godwin, a representative for the Bureau's Washington D.C. field office, said.
Godwin added she did not know if either AT&T or Apple had complained of the breach. Representatives for both companies could not be immediately reached for comment.
A group that calls itself Goatse Security claimed responsibility for the breach to a writer for the Gawker blog on Thursday.
The group said it was able to access about 114,000 email addresses for iPad users.
Owners of those addresses apparently included high-profile individuals in politics, business and the military.
