Lulzsec Ends Hacking Spree

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The year 2011 has been the year of hacking like no one has seen before. Hacking collectives Anonymous and Lulz Security (LulzSec) have attacked several major government and corporate websites. Anonymous launched its attacks in retaliation for the arrest of Julian Assange of WikiLeaks. LulzSec, by contrast, publicly proclaimed its aim as exposing government and corporate misuse of personal data. However, it came across as a juvenile group due to its taunting Twitter messages and press releases. As a hacking group, it did not accomplish anything positive by definition, but it's doubtful that LulzSec accomplished even its nominal goals.



The group officially retired on June 25, 2011, citing personal reasons, and that the group was not permanently dedicated to the LulzSec identity. LulzSec encouraged followers and admirers to continue their attacks as part of the anti-government or Anti-Sec movement. The group is one of the most infamous anti-government groups in modern times. LulzSec disabled or leaked data from multiple sensitive entities, including the Central Intelligence Agency and the United States ...
... Senate, in addition to multiple corporations like Sony and Nintendo.



LulzSec devolved over the course of its existence into a group that hacked for fun. LulzSec even created a hotline for people to suggest targets. Observers have speculated that the group disbanded due to fears of being exposed and arrested. Towards the end of its hacking spree, the group leaked sensitive data related to Arizona law enforcement. The group published private intelligence briefings, training manuals, email correspondence of a personal nature, address, phone numbers and names of Arizona law enforcement officers. The stated reason? LulzSec opposed Arizona's tough immigration laws and decried Arizona as a police state.



The underground hacking community is difficult to grasp fully. In the early days of LulzSec's existence, rumors abounded that the group split off from the hacking collective known as Anonymous. LulzSec quickly proved itself to be an expert at hiding the tracks of its members. The group has now officially retired, even though members seem to have merely continued their activities through other venues. LulzSec proved that information security was not air-tight. Professionals in this industry have to re-evaluate risk management.



It is critical to protect sensitive information from successful hacking attempts. Merely releasing sensitive data exposes law enforcement, government officials and entire industries and countries to attack and defamation. Hacking groups like LulzSec and Anonymous ultimately do pose a threat, but the bigger threat comes from hostile cyberwarfare attempts. LulzSec was akin to a bunch of adolescents carrying out petty vandalism and theft rather than posing a threat to national security. Releasing sensitive data is not the same thing as a sophisticated, widespread distributed denial-of-service attack.



Nevertheless, the next generation of security professionals will have to deal with new hacking threats. In a world of nuclear weaponry and hostile foreign countries, releasing sensitive information could be fatal on a large scale. LulzSec is the latest incarnation of what may be called juvenile anarchism and must be taken seriously.