from Guardian.co.uk: Federal police charge IT worker, 24, with attacking government website and say he has claimed to be a leader of hacker group.
Australian police have arrested a man they say is affiliated with the international hacking collective LulzSec on a charge of attacking and defacing a government website.
The
24-year-old senior IT worker, whose name was not released, was arrested
on Tuesday night at his Sydney office, the Australian Federal Police
said. The man, who police say has claimed to be a high-level member of
the hacking group, was charged with two counts of unauthorised
modification of data to cause impairmen, and one count of unauthorised
access to, or modification of, restricted data. If convicted he could
face up to 12 years in jail.
24-year-old senior IT worker, whose name was not released, was arrested
on Tuesday night at his Sydney office, the Australian Federal Police
said. The man, who police say has claimed to be a high-level member of
the hacking group, was charged with two counts of unauthorised
modification of data to cause impairmen, and one count of unauthorised
access to, or modification of, restricted data. If convicted he could
face up to 12 years in jail.
Lulz Security, or LulzSec, is an offshoot of the hacking group Anonymous.
LulzSec was formed in 2011 and quickly grabbed headlines after claiming
responsibility for a series of high-profile cyberattacks against the
CIA, Sony Pictures, the US Public Broadcasting Service and Britain’s
Serious Organised Crime Agency.
LulzSec was formed in 2011 and quickly grabbed headlines after claiming
responsibility for a series of high-profile cyberattacks against the
CIA, Sony Pictures, the US Public Broadcasting Service and Britain’s
Serious Organised Crime Agency.
Several members of the group have
been arrested, including its reputed leader, known as Sabu. Sabu turned out to be FBI informant Hector Xavier Monsegur, who federal officials
said helped them build a case against several other hackers. Two weeks
ago British LulzSec hacker Ryan Ackroyd pleaded guilty to several
cyberattacks.
been arrested, including its reputed leader, known as Sabu. Sabu turned out to be FBI informant Hector Xavier Monsegur, who federal officials
said helped them build a case against several other hackers. Two weeks
ago British LulzSec hacker Ryan Ackroyd pleaded guilty to several
cyberattacks.
Australian Federal Police Superintendent Brad Marden said the man
arrested on Tuesday hacked into an Australian government website and
defaced it earlier this month. Marden would not say which website was
attacked, only that it did not belong to a federal agency. Police did
not believe any sensitive data was accessed in the attack or that anyone
else was involved.
The man, from Gosford, about 50 miles (80km)
north of Sydney, claimed to be the Australian leader of LulzSec,
Australian Federal Police Commander Glen McEwen said. But Anonymous Australia
appeared to laugh off those claims on Twitter. In response to a
follower asking if anyone knew who the man was, the group tweeted: “Nope
not part of the usual suspects on any of our [channels] of
communication.”
north of Sydney, claimed to be the Australian leader of LulzSec,
Australian Federal Police Commander Glen McEwen said. But Anonymous Australia
appeared to laugh off those claims on Twitter. In response to a
follower asking if anyone knew who the man was, the group tweeted: “Nope
not part of the usual suspects on any of our [channels] of
communication.”
Police began investigating the man two weeks ago after they discovered the government website had been hacked.
“This
individual was operating from a position of trust who had access to
sensitive information from clients including government agencies,”
McEwen said. “The AFP believes this man’s skill sets and access to this
type of information presented a considerable risk for Australian
society.”
individual was operating from a position of trust who had access to
sensitive information from clients including government agencies,”
McEwen said. “The AFP believes this man’s skill sets and access to this
type of information presented a considerable risk for Australian
society.”
The man was released on bail and ordered to appear in court next month.
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