Hackers become more militant

[John Walker <jwalker () HWCN ORG>]

The Net, Issue #23

http://www.themestream.com/articles/311573

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1. Current Events and News

Hackers become more militant

Brent Lawson
The Hamilton Spectator

The attacks from the silence of cyberspace struck with military
precision. A total of 26 government Web sites in three countries were
hacked into and defaced at virtually the same time.

Then, hackers hit software giant Microsoft Corp., shutting down access
for millions of users in North America.

This week's well organized attacks were a reminder that cyberspace
remains a battleground on many fronts, with groups eager to claim credit
for what they view as political action rather than cyber vandalism.

The Web invasions occurred almost exactly one year after attacks on such
high profile sites as Amazon.com, Yahoo and eBay which cost millions of
dollars and prompted widespread fears about Internet security.

The success of the recent strikes suggests the world's most powerful
sites remain vulnerable to determined computer hackers.

Last week, a 16-year-old from Montreal known as Mafiaboy pleaded guilty
to 56 charges of mischief in connection with some of those attacks.

But this week's forays on to government sites in the United States,
United Kingdom and Australia were hardly the work of a few isolated
hackers.

The cyber raids are seen as a reflection of the growing militancy of
disgruntled Web users who have organized into groups with a
para-military structure.

Cyber security expert John Walker of Hamilton-based CSS Internet News
said such groups claim to possess a clear purpose.

More... http://www.themestream.com/articles/311573




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