HackersInternational hacking group calls it quits

Published 28 June 2011

After a series of high-profile cyberattacks including attacks on Sony, the U.S. Senate, and the Arizona State Police’s websites, the international hacking group known as LulzSec has announced that they are officially disbanding; the group’s announcement comes shortly after British authorities working in conjunction with the FBI arrested a U.K. teenager for his affiliation with LulzSec; the group maintains that its decision was unrelated

The LulzSec logo // Source: venturebeat.com

After a series of high-profile cyberattacks including attacks on Sony, the U.S. Senate, and the Arizona State Police’s websites, the international hacking group known as LulzSec has announced that they are officially disbanding.

On 25 June, the group posted a message on its website stating, “Our planned 50 day cruise has expired, and we must now sail into the distance. This is our final release.”

The group first became notorious in May after attacking Sony’s networks and posting the personal information of millions of users.

More mischievous pranksters than serious cyber criminals, LulzSec primarily attacked the websites of major corporations or government entities to embarrass them for their lack of security.

The group’s motto is “Laughing at your security since 2011!” and brazenly claims credit for its attacks on its Twitter account and website.

The group has taken credit for a spate of attacks including taking down the CIA’s website, stealing passwords from InfraGard which works with the FBI, posting a fake news story on the PBS website, and posting hundreds of documents stolen from the Arizona Department of Public Security database.

Pranks withstanding, LulzSec’s members are also fierce believers in the Anti-Security (AntiSec) movement, which is an online movement opposed to the growing computer security industry.

In its final statement, LulzSec said, “We truly believe in the AntiSec movement. We believe in it so strongly that we brought it back, much to the dismay of those looking for more anarchic lulz (laugh out louds). We hope, wish, even beg, that themovement manifests itself into a revolution that can continue on without us.”

The group’s announcement comes shortly after British authorities working in conjunction with the FBI arrested a U.K. teenager for his affiliation with LulzSec.

British police say the nineteen year old was arrested “on suspicion of Computer Misuse Act, and Fraud Act offences.”

In an anonymous interview with the Associated Press, one LulzSec member said that their decision to disband was not related to the increasing pressure from authorities.

We’re not quitting because we’re afraid of law enforcement,” the hacker said. “The press are getting bored of us, and we’re getting bored of us.”