EPTThe world's most notorious computer hacker [Hector Xavier Monsegur, AKA Sabu] has been working as an informer for the FBI for at least the last six months, it emerged on Tuesday, providing information that has helped contribute to the charging of five others, including two Britons, for computer hacking offences.
Full article: http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2012/mar/06/lulzsec-sabu-working-for-us-fbi
So, what are TL's collective thoughts on this? Opinion on lulzsec and other hacking groups is polarised – does this undermine the ‘movement’?
As far as I’ve read, Sabu himself has always warned against hackers revealing too much about themselves to their peers for fear of being shopped out (in fact I recall him say this in his reddit AMA – was this 6 months ago?).
I think it would be difficult for the authorities to describe this as anything short of a major victory – especially as Sabu is a major figure at least in the more public forums.
The article also mentions that there may be a spate of hacks taking retribution for this.
I know very little about the underground hacking community so would appreciate TL’s collective wisdom. I do sympathise with extracting information from private companies and governments to the benefit of the people through illegal means, but I am smart enough to know that a rose tinted view of the rebel hacker sticking it to the corporate ‘man’ is beyond naïve – as indeed evidenced by this news.
EDIT: thansk for links :-
Amusing and informative links from sulliwan:
On March 07 2012 21:11 sulliwan wrote:
A nice list of related information: http://erratasec.blogspot.com/2012/03/notes-on-sabu-arrest.html
Reddit thread: http://www.reddit.com/r/technology/comments/qk612/lulzsec_leader_betrays_all_of_anonymous/
The hilarious bits: http://gawker.com/5890901/anonymous-snitch-tried-and-failed-to-pass-himself-off-as-an-fbi-agent-last-month
http://www.reddit.com/r/SubredditDrama/comments/qgahn/recap_the_tale_of_laurelairaziel/
A nice list of related information: http://erratasec.blogspot.com/2012/03/notes-on-sabu-arrest.html
Reddit thread: http://www.reddit.com/r/technology/comments/qk612/lulzsec_leader_betrays_all_of_anonymous/
The hilarious bits: http://gawker.com/5890901/anonymous-snitch-tried-and-failed-to-pass-himself-off-as-an-fbi-agent-last-month
http://www.reddit.com/r/SubredditDrama/comments/qgahn/recap_the_tale_of_laurelairaziel/
And from Liquid'Drone:
On March 07 2012 21:12 Liquid`Drone wrote:
here's a fun chatlog
it's between sabu and some other ex-affiliated hacker (apparently?) named virus, from august 2011
http://foojutsu.org/pipermail/wikileaks/2011-August/000270.html
pretty long but i've rarely seen anyone be that internet-owned.
here's a fun chatlog
it's between sabu and some other ex-affiliated hacker (apparently?) named virus, from august 2011
http://foojutsu.org/pipermail/wikileaks/2011-August/000270.html
pretty long but i've rarely seen anyone be that internet-owned.
Sabu's Reddit AMA (think it's safe to assume that his remark 'Stick to yourselves. If you are in a crew - keep your opsec up 24/7. Friends will try to take you down if they have to' is more of a veiled warning to his friends than complete hypocracy - but that's me giving him the benefit of the doubt:
http://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/kpfsp/ama_request_sabu_from_lulsec_this_would_be_amazing/
