LulzSec, the hacker group once called “Internet pranksters” rather than hard-core hackers because of the lighthearted messages (and apparently non financial- or terror-motivated goals), seems to have upped the ante a bit on its activities.
The group, which recently claimed responsibility for cyber-attacks on Sony and its PlayStation network as well as the CIA, is saying that is has compromised the security of more than 1,000 accounts of an FBI partner organization for the second time this month. In claiming responsibility for the attacks, the group released a kind of “manifesto” calling for war on governments that control the Internet, according to the Associated Press this morning.
LulzSec (short for “Lulz Security”) revealed that attacked a local section of Connecticut-based InfraGard, a partnership between the FBI and the private sector to share security information.
An FBI spokeswoman has said that the agency was aware of the attack and shut down InfraGard's Web site as a precaution. The FBI has not commented on the extent of the damage, if any, that was done by the cyber-attack.
On Sunday night, LulzSec tweeted that the attack had “compromised 1000+ FBI-affiliated members.” The hacker group said that it did not plan to leak any user information but planned to use the break-in merely to embarrass the FBI.
According to its Web site, InfraGard is an association of businesses, academic institutions and law enforcement agencies dedicated to sharing information to prevent hostile acts against the U.S. Companies and organizations that participate are given access to security information from government sources such as the FBI and Department of Homeland Security. These members organizations can then participate in discussions with others in the IT-security field, reported the AP.
Earlier this month, LulzSec claimed responsibility for an attack on the Atlanta chapter of InfraGard, stealing 180 passwords from its members and leaking them online. The hacker group says that attack was a response to a report that the Pentagon was considering whether to classify types of cyber-attacks as acts of war.
LulzSec, which last week was taking “requests” for hacking targets, said it is coordinating a united hacker effort against governments and organizations that control the Internet.
“Our Lulz Lizard battle fleet is now declaring immediate and unremitting war on the freedom-snatching moderators of 2011,” said the group said in the statement.
LulzSec is reportedly partnering with well known hacker group Anonymous – which as of late has targeted high-profile companies such as Visa, MasterCard and PayPal – in an effort to fight government and corporate corruption and greed, says the group.
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Tracey Schelmetic is a contributing editor for TechZone360. To read more of Tracey's articles, please visit her columnist page.Edited by
Jennifer Russell
