\'Most-wanted\' hacker \'informs\' on LulzSec comrades

A group of expert hackers who attacked governments and firms all over the world were arrested after its ringleader one of several world's most-wanted computer vandals turned against his comrades and secretly began working as an informant for the FBI months ago, authorities announced this morning.

Five people were charged in court papers unsealed in federal court in Ny, and authorities revealed that a sixth person, Hector Xavier Monsegur of latest York, has pleaded guilty.

Monsegur was portrayed in court papers because the ringleader, a legendary figure known within the hacking underworld as "Sabu." Authorities said he formed an elite hacking organization last May and named it "Lulz Security" or "LulzSec." "Lulz" is internet slang that may be interpreted as "laughs," "humor" or "amusement."

Despite the organization's lighthearted name, authorities said Monsegur and his followers launched into a dastardly stream of deeds against business and government entities within the US and worldwide, leading to the theft of confidential information, the defacing of internet sites and attacks that temporarily put victims into bankruptcy.

Their exploits included attacks on cyber-security firms and the posting of a faux story that slain rapper Tupac Shakur was alive in New Zealand.

As their exploits became known, some hackers related to the gang boasted about their prowess.

Monsegur was charged with conspiracy to have interaction in computer hacking, among other offenses. Authorities said he pleaded guilty Aug. 15.

In step with the court papers, he was an "influential member of 3 hacking organizations Anonymous, internet Feds and Lulz Security that were accountable for multiple cyberattacks at the computers of varied businesses and governments within the Usa and within the world."

In accordance with the court papers, he acted as a "rooter," a pc hacker who identified vulnerabilities within the computers of potential victims.

The court papers said he participated in attacks over the last few years on Visa, MasterCard and PayPal; government computers in Tunisia, Algeria, Yemeni and Zimbabwe; Fox Broadcasting Co. and the Tribune Co.; PBS; and the U.S. Senate.

Irish police said Tuesday that some of the five suspects have been arrested and was being held at a Dublin police station. They refused to release his name, in accordance with police force policy.

LulzSec is a derivative of the loosely organized hacking collective Anonymous. Its members attained notoriety last May by attacking the PBS website and posting the false story about Shakur.

In response to court papers unsealed Tuesday, Monsegur and others planted the fake story in retaliation for what they appeared to be unfavorable news coverage of Wikileaks at the PBS news program "Frontline."

Some alleged associates of the gang are already facing charges elsewhere. An English teenager, Ryan Cleary, was arrested by the British in June. In July, a reputed LulzSec spokesman, Jake Davis, was arrested in Scotland.
- AP