‘LulzSec suspect’ arrested by Scotland Yard, Sophos comments
June 2011 by Sophos
Scotland Yard has confirmed that it has arrested a 19-year old hacker in Essex, UK, in connection with a series of hacks and denial-of-service attacks against a number of high-profile organisations.
Inevitably, there is speculation that the arrest may be in connection with the high profile attacks conducted by the LulzSec hacking gang against the likes of Sony, the CIA, the FBI, and the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA).
Officers from the Police Central e-Crime Unit (PCeU) arrested the man last night on suspicion of breaching the Computer Misuse Act, and searched a house in Wickford, Essex, where they seized computer equipment which will undergo forensic examination. The FBI and local Essex police worked in co-operation with the PCeU to investigate the case.
"The controversial LulzSec group has been playing a dangerous game - their Twitter account, which has more than 220,000 followers, has become increasingly vocal - embarrassing computer crime authorities and large organisations around the world with their attacks," said Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant at Sophos. "There has been much speculation recently regarding who might be behind LulzSec - if the group has now been cracked then it will send a strong message to others thinking about engaging in their own hacks or denial-of-service attacks."
"What everyone will now be looking for is whether LulzSec’s Twitter account is updated, and if so - what does it say about the arrest? Will it be a case of "who lulz last, laughs longest?" added Cluley.