The hacking group believed to be behind the recent Stratfor hack were dealt up to police by their own leader, according to media reports
Three members of hacking group Lulzsec were arrested and two more charged with conspiracy this morning (March 6), according to news network FoxNews.com. The top members were caught based on information gathered by Lulzsec’s leader who has been secretly working for the FBI.
The suspects, who include two men from the UK, two from Ireland and an American from Chicago, are expected to be confronted with an indictment on Tuesday morning in New York.
Lulzsec is an offshoot of the loose coordinated hackers’ network Anonymous, who only recently attacked security company Stratfor to steal and publish millions of confidential emails.
Hector Xavier Monsegur organised the international team of hackers behind Lulzsec from a public housing project on New York’s Lower East Side, according to the authorities. After the FBI unmasked Monsegur last June, he became a cooperating witness, reported FoxNews.com.
The 28-year-old father of two pleaded guilty on August 15th to 12 hacking-related charges. His cooperation led to the arrest of the remaining top ranking members of Lulzsec, including Jeremy Hammond, who is believed to have been the main person behind the December hacking attack on Stratfor.
FBI sources told FoxNews.com Hammond would be charged in a separate indictment and described him as a member of Anonymous, while all other arrests are suspected members of Lulzsec, who are known for hacking into US and foreign government agencies such as the CIA and the FBI as well as defense contractors, financial and governmental entities and corporations including Fox and Sony.
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