Online 'hacktivists' arrested and charged by FBI
Six online 'hacktivists' have been charged with computer hacking following a series of online attacks against governments and global corporations.
Six hackers involved within the online ‘hacktivist’ groups Anonymous have been charged with “computer hacking,” according to the FBI today.
Hackers involved in the Anonymous and offshoot groups LulzSec, Internet Feds and AntiSec collaborative movements focused on attacking governments and global corporations via the Internet, have been hit by the hand of the law after an activist ‘ringleader’ turned informant just months ago.
Hector Xavier Monsegur, one of the ringleaders associated with Internet activist groups Anonymous, LulzSec and Internet Feds, was partially responsible for his help in charging the other five online activists by turning FBI informant.
Those charged include Ryan Ackroyd, Jake Davis, Darren Martyn, Donncha O’Cearrbhail and Jeremy Hammond who have all identified themselves as being part of the online activist group Anonymous and its offshoot groups.
The charges against this latest catch of online hackers relate to hacking incidents carried out over several years from 2008 including denial of service (DoS) attacks against the sites of Visa, Sony, and various government websites.
The arrests were made possible after the group’s “senior leader”, Monsegur, turned into a cooperative witness since the FBI turned him in June last year.
However, Monsegur is not off the hook as he now faces multiple charges of stealing confidential information and coordinating multiple online attacks, with charges adding up to a maximum of 124 years in prison.
Anonymous has been known to perform ‘revenge attacks’ to those involved in de-legitimising public interests worldwide, with the most recent attack on Interpol’s main website following the arrest of 25 Anonymous members on February 29.
With the online activist group leader having played a major role in the arrest of multiple hackers associated within these groups, it is clear that too much anonymity could in fact bring down the Anonymous movement entirely.
Robert McCambridge
Wed, 07 Mar 2012
Wed, 07 Mar 2012
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Online 'hacktivists' arrested and charged by FBI
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