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Computer crime authorities will be hoping that they have struck a significant blow against the Anonymous and LulzSec hacking groups, following a series of raids and arrests on both sides of the Atlantic.
In the United States, 16 people have been arrested in connection with an internet attack last year against PayPal – an assault which was claimed by the loosely-knit hacktivist group known as “Anonymous”, in retaliation for the website withdrawing support for WikiLeaks.
According to a Department of Justice press release, arrests were made in Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, the District of Columbia, Florida, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Mexico, Ohio and the District of New Jersey.
In all, FBI agents executed more than 35 search warrants as part of the co-ordinated investigation.
In addition, the UK’s PCeU arrested a 16-year-old youth known as “T-Flow” in South London, on suspicion of breaching the Computer Misuse Act. The teenager is allegedly connected to hacks perpetrated by the LulzSec and Anonymous groups.
Finally, the Dutch National Police Agency arrested four individuals for alleged cybercrimes related to the case.
Defendants named by the US authorities include:
* Christopher Wayne Cooper, 23, aka “Anthrophobic”
* Joshua John Covelli, 26, aka “Absolem” and “Toxic”
* Keith Wilson Downey, 26
* Mercedes Renee Haefer, 20, aka “No” and “MMMM”
* Donald Husband, 29, aka “Ananon”
* Vincent Charles Kershaw, 27, aka “Trivette”, “Triv” and “Reaper”
* Ethan Miles, 33
* James C. Murphy, 36
* Drew Alan Phillips, 26, aka “Drew010”
* Jeffrey Puglisi, 28, aka “Jeffer”, “Jefferp” and “Ji”
* Daniel Sullivan, 22
* Tracy Ann Valenzuela, 42
* Christopher Quang Vo, 22
In addition, 21-year-old Scott Matthew Arciszewski, 21 who was arrested by the FBI in Florida, was charged with hacks targeted at the Tampa Bay InfraGard website.
InfraGard is a public-private partnership for critical infrastructure protection sponsored by the FBI.
Meanwhile, 21-year-old Lance Moore, of Las Cruses, New Mexico, was charged with allegedly stealing confidential business information from AT&T’s web servers. Moore is said to have worked as a customer support contractor at the firm and is alleged to have downloaded thousands of documents and other files that he was not authorised to access.
The AT&T files were later published by the LulzSec hacking group.
Computer crime authorities will no doubt be hoping that they have struck a significant blow against the Anonymous and LulzSec hacking groups – but anyone who believes we have heard the last of the hacktivists is probably going to be sourly disappointed.
I wonder if there is any chance of the authorities going after the criminals that are responsible for the current financial meltdown that is causing so much pain and suffering to the average citizen of the world ? Oh right, it would be foolish to go after your bosses. How many bankers have been arrested ? how many politicians ? Where did all the money go ?
I agree, this doesn't feel right. Compared with the Zeus, etc gangs, Anon and Lulz are beginners. How about putting huge teams onto the professional criminal cases? Or is it because the bosses of the companies targeted had mates in government so were able to pressure the FBI into putting a lot of resource into it?
That's the same kind of dumb thing said by people caught speeding – "Why aren't you off catching real criminals?".
The people who screwed up the economy didn't break any actual laws because the politicians who make the laws where and still are are in their pockets.
Lulzsec/anon did break the law and (hopefully) they're going to spend some time in the slammer.
One thing has nothing to do with the other.
I don't think they meant that they should ignore the little guys, just that they should focus *more* on the big guys.
actually breaking of laws when done to uphold the justice and to change the status quo is not only morally right, and justified but is the responsibility of the citizens of a country. when the politisions of the land are only serving the richest 1 % of a population and of course themselves then its time for someone to stand up and challenege the " government ". And you say they ( the bankers and officals ) that are responsible for the state of the country as it currently is did not break any laws then i suggest you check again. Laws were broken. Banks did not act in good faith as they are supposed to , they defrauded many citizens and NONE have paid with any jail time.
Last time i checked the Founders of this country and all who fought against the British were Criminals. only difference with our government and that which was then is that now there is media to drill misinformation into the minds of the brainwashed masses and there are to many with out aq backbone to stand aginst the injustice perpitrated aginst us now.
While i dont condone all that these " Hackers" have done. I do believe that there should be no secrets and that fact that they did want they did because certain organizatios stopped supporting Wiki Leaks, perhaps those organizations should think before they act. and grow a damn back bone and dont give into the bulling tactics of the government and the corperation that they serve !
You do the crime be prepared to do the time.
I hope the lulz were worth it.
http://lawblog.legalmatch.com/2011/07/25/once-aga…
Any anon with any talent is in jail now the others must pick up the paste
I consider it along the lines of one would not exist without the other. Without the corruption that our government faces with private group interest instead of the actual citizens of the land. In which our economy would be in a much better state if not better, why would Anonymous or Lulzsec exist? Without dirty secrets and back door scams there would be no Anon's nor lulzsec's something is wrong with this world and something must change, our 99% won't push the issue but a small percentage of us will fight back anyway that we can, in this case, opening the eyes of any intelligent citizen able to arm themselves with the internet and valuable information hidden from our eyes.
It comes down to this, if your hands are clean what do you have to hide? Why lock and bolt doors to keep secrets if you have nothing underhanded, morally wrong, and maybe even unlawfully wrong?
Anon's are just lock smiths showing the citizens what we should be already asking for. The keys back to our country.