LulzSec hackers jailed for string of sophisticated cyber-attacks

[alp227]

Source: The Guardian

Some of the longest ever jail sentences for hacking have been handed down to four British members of the international computer hackers' gang LulzSec who masterminded a string of sophisticated cyber-attacks on major global institutions from their bedrooms.

The four bragged of being "gods" and caused millions of pounds of damage in a three-month spree in 2011.

The 32-month and 30-month sentences for, respectively, 21-year-old Ryan Cleary of Wickford in Essex and 26-year-old Iraq veteran Ryan Ackroyd of Mexborough in Yorkshire were among the most severe handed down by a British court for such offences. Jake Davis, 20, of Lerwick in Shetland, who acted as group spokesman, received a 24-month sentence in a young offenders' institution – equal to the previous longest given in 2003 to virus-writer Simon Vallor. All will serve half their sentences.

Another member of the group, Mustafa Al-Bassam, 18, of Peckham in south London, received a 20-month sentence suspended for two years, and 300 hours' community service.

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2013/may/16/lulzsec-hackers-jailed-cyber-attacks

[Blue_Tires]

1. from the BBC:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-22552753


http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-22526021

[freshwest]

2. He gives an honest assessment:

...Jake Davis, who went by the online alias Topiary, says he now regrets "95% of the things I've ever typed on the internet".

"It was my world, but it was a very limited world. You can see and hear it, but you can't touch the internet. It's a world devoid of empathy - and that shows on Twitter, and the mob mentality against politicians and public figures. There is no empathy.

"So it was my world, and it was a very cynical world and I became a very cynical person."

Being void of the sense of touch and presence of another person, can lead to destructive behavior. I'm hoping his advice is heard:

"I would say if you have a passion and an outlet for creativity, try and do something beyond the front door. Because if you get sucked into that computer world, you get dependent on it, and if you're dependent on it, it's very hard to say no to things that you may later come to regret."

He learned the hard way and still has many good years left.

[gvstn]

3. Thanks for this post. Something to think about.