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LulzSec hacking group announces end to cyber attacks | LulzSec hacking group announces end to cyber attacks |
(40 minutes later) | |
A hacker group that has attacked several high-profile websites over the last two months has announced that it is disbanding. | A hacker group that has attacked several high-profile websites over the last two months has announced that it is disbanding. |
Lulz Security made its announcement through its Twitter account, giving no reason for its decision. | Lulz Security made its announcement through its Twitter account, giving no reason for its decision. |
href="http://thepiratebay.org/torrent/6495523/50_Days_of_Lulz" >A statement published on a file-sharing website said that its "planned 50-day cruise has expired". | |
The group leapt to prominence by carrying out attacks on companies such as Sony and Nintendo. | The group leapt to prominence by carrying out attacks on companies such as Sony and Nintendo. |
Broadcasters Fox and PBS, the CIA, and the United States Senate have also been cyber-attacked by the group. | Broadcasters Fox and PBS, the CIA, and the United States Senate have also been cyber-attacked by the group. |
As a parting shot, the group released a selection of documents apparently including confidential material taken from the Arizona police department and US telecoms giant AT&T. | |
Correspondents say LulzSec's announcement could be a sign that its members are nervous because of recent police investigations, including the arrest of a British man suspected of links to the group, and efforts by rival hackers to expose them. | |
'Microscopic impact' | |
The group's identities remain anonymous and it has not been possible to contact its members directly to confirm its statement. | |
The statement said that "our crew of six wishes you a happy 2011". | |
"So with those last thoughts, it's time to say bon voyage," it added. | |
"Our planned 50 day cruise has expired, and we must now sail into the distance, leaving behind - we hope - inspiration, fear, denial, happiness, approval, disapproval, mockery, embarrassment, thoughtfulness, jealousy, hate, even love. If anything, we hope we had a microscopic impact on someone, somewhere." | |
But LulzSec urged its supporters to carry on. | |
"We hope, wish, even beg, that the movement manifests itself into a revolution that can continue on without us," the statement said. | |
"Please don't stop. Together, united, we can stomp down our common oppressors and imbue ourselves with the power and freedom we deserve." | |
The group had previously told the BBC's Newsnight programme that it wanted to target the "higher ups" who write the rules and "bring them down a few notches". | |
In an online Q&A, the hacker known as Whirlpool, who described himself as "captain of the Lulz Boat", said that while the group had begun hacking "for laughs" - for which the word "lulz" is cyber-slang - it evolved into "politically motivated ethical hacking". | |
And in an interview with the Associated Press on Friday, a LulzSec member said the group had at least five gigabytes of "government and law enforcement data" from around the world, which it planned to release in the next three weeks. | And in an interview with the Associated Press on Friday, a LulzSec member said the group had at least five gigabytes of "government and law enforcement data" from around the world, which it planned to release in the next three weeks. |
Ryan Cleary, 19, from Wickford, Essex, was arrested as part of a Scotland Yard and FBI probe into LulzSec and charged with hacking the website of the UK Serious Organised Crime Agency. | Ryan Cleary, 19, from Wickford, Essex, was arrested as part of a Scotland Yard and FBI probe into LulzSec and charged with hacking the website of the UK Serious Organised Crime Agency. |