'Hacktivists' Lulz Security Disbands After 50-Day Spree (ContributorNetwork)

Lulz Security, the group that claims to have been behind the massive computer hacks suffered by Nintendo, Sony, some FBI affiliates and the U.S. Senate, has announced it is disbanding. Known primarily as Lulzsec, the group has been on what they are referring to as a "50-day cruise" of hacking everything it could, whether the sites were government, corporate or public-related.

Lulzsec began its reign over the Internet in May, compromising the account of some 77 million Sony PlayStation Network users. Its last hack, completed over the weekend, allegedly exposed information from a variety of groups, including the FBI and AOL. This was according to one of the group's members, who spoke with the Associated Press after the announcement on Twitter that Lulzsec was no more.

Both the "official" statement by Lulzsec and the interview with the group member reiterates the hackers' claims that their "hacktivism" was merely recreational. According to them, the undertaking was begun due to the "raw, uninterrupted, chaotic thrill of entertainment and anarchy."

Some questioned the timing of the announcement to disband, citing the arrest at the beginning of last week of 19-year-old Ryan Cleary in the U.K. Cleary has been charged with compromising a national police website and officials have let it be known they believe Cleary's computer may lead them to some of the other members of Lulzsec as well, since Cleary is allegedly a part of both that hacking group and another one known as Anonymous.

Despite the perception of increased pressure by international policing organizations, the Lulzsec member who spoke to the Associated Press insisted the group members had merely gotten "bored." Another member of Lulzsec, known as Sabu, took to Twitter to say that many of the members had simply moved on to other groups, like Anonymous, to continue their activities.

Earlier in the month, Lulzsec had posted a phone number online where people could call in and leave suggestions as to just what or who the group should hack next. The line received 5,000 calls and logged 2,500 voicemails on its very first day of operation. The group also posted an online poll where people could weigh in with their opinions on Lulzec's activities.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/tech/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ac/20110627/us_ac/8708273_hacktivists_lulz_security_disbands_after_50day_spree

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