Lulzsec Leader Arrested Down Under

The authorities’ clampdown on the defunct hacking group LulzSec, which compromised the websites of the CIA, the NHS, and Sony Pictures, continues with the reported arrest of its leader.

Australian Federal Police said they had arrested the self-proclaimed leader of LulzSec. The 24-year old was not named, but is said to be an IT worker in real life. He has been charged with hacking offences that carry a maximum penalty of 10 years.

Leader Arrested

Glen McEwen, manager of cyber crime operations at Australian Federal Police, told Reuters that the man was detained at work, where he had access to sensitive information from clients including government agencies.

The arrested Australian used the online moniker “Aush0k” and is reportedly known to international law authorities.

It is thought that the Australian arrest could have resulted from the information provided to the FBI by Hector Xavier Monsegur (also known as Sabu). Monsegur, an unemployed Puerto Rican living in New York, was reportedly LulzSec’s leader but provided evidence to the authorities after his own arrest, that led to the arrest of five senior members of LulzSec.

The authorities have also arrested other members of LulzSec, including Ryan Cleary, the British teenager arrested in June last year. Earlier this month it was revealed that Cleary was back in prison after breaching his bail conditions. In the US, American LulzSec member, Cody Kretsinger, was recently sentenced in a Los Angeles court to a year in prison followed by home detention.

Hacking Campaigns

LulzSec is considered a splinter group from the collective Anonymous, a loose collection of cyber-savvy individuals who band together claiming to fight for Internet freedoms. LulzSec burst onto the scene in 2010 and attacked a wide range of sites, exposing their security failings for “lulz” or for laughs and entertainment. The group announced it had disbanded in June 2011.

The Lulzsec denial of service campaign has in the past claimed some notable scalps. This included an attack on the UK’s Serious and Organised Crime Agency (SOCA). Lulzsec also attacked the sites of the CIA and the US Senate.

LulzSec has previously taken down the Brazilian Government’s Website and attacked an Arizona police department. It has also attacked the NHS and Sony Pictures.

What do you know about Internet security? Find out with our quiz!