Three Arrested For Sony/Egypt Hacks

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Three Arrested For Sony/Egypt Hacks

Posted by Soulskill on Friday June 10, 2011 @05:39AM from the enjoy-the-backlash dept.

jimmij0770 writes "Three people accused of being behind cyberattacks on the Sony PlayStation store, the Egyptian government and other targets have been arrested in Spain. Quoting: 'Spanish National Police announced the arrests Friday in a statement that alleged the three in custody are leaders of the Spanish section of Anonymous, a loose-knit international activist group that has claimed attacks on companies such as Visa and MasterCard and on government websites. At least one spokesperson for the group had denied responsibility for the attacks on Sony through its AnonOps blog. ... The statement said police began their investigation in October 2010 following a complaint of a denial of service attack on Spain's Ministry of Culture. They analyzed more than two million lines of chat logs and web pages used by the hackers in order to find the three people who were arrested.'"

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hehe by Anonymous Coward · 2011-06-10 05:44 · Score: 1

silly cops i am the leader duh
Idiots by Anonymous Coward · 2011-06-10 05:44 · Score: 3, Insightful

I wish the media would hurry up and realize how stupid they sound saying "leaders of anonymous."
1. Re:Idiots by Anonymous Coward · 2011-06-10 05:50 · Score: 5, Insightful
  
  What's stupid is continuing to pretend "Anonymous" is really just a few unconnected anonymous individuals working independently.
2. Re:Idiots by Anonymous Coward · 2011-06-10 06:08 · Score: 1
  
  But they never said that. They said leaders of the "Spanish section" of Anonymous.
  You are just skipping out words you don't want to read for... whatever weird reason you have.
  They could very well be leaders of a group of Anonymous activists from Spain.
  They might even go after the lesser members at some point too, but you always take the leaders out to destroy most things.
  There are very obvious signs of leadership in most loose groups. That includes Anonymous.
  Most likely that most commands of attack are given out by a very small number of vocal people who actually give a shit about this stuff and are good at making people want to give a damn since most of the time people who request attacks on imageboards are told to GTFO, or NYPA'd (Not Your Personal Army) to "Purgedom". (and occasionally banned)
  These are traditional leaders by any definition. It doesn't even require stretching the term.
3. Re:Idiots by DrXym · 2011-06-10 06:18 · Score: 1
  
  I wish the media would hurry up and realize how stupid they sound saying "leaders of anonymous."
  Someone holds the keys and coordinates attacks. Pretending that there is no one in the middle absurd. Pretending that there isn't an inner circle of occasional participants is doubly absurd. It may well be that the further out you go the more amorphous things become (i.e. all the morons volunteering to run LOIC) but there is definitely people in the middle who could be classified as and are ringleaders.
4. Re:Idiots by mortonda · 2011-06-10 08:43 · Score: 1
  
  I'm waiting for a round of Sparticus-like "I'm the leader of anonymous!"
5. Re:Idiots by Duradin · 2011-06-10 08:58 · Score: 1
  
  The Appian way is in need of some new decorations...
6. Re:Idiots by DrXym · 2011-06-10 22:27 · Score: 1
  
  Don't be ridiculous. There is an inner circle of people who coordinate attacks, who write the tools like LOIC, who facilitate communication & coordination, who hold crypto keys, who supply urls to attack and and prime the commands to launch attacks. They are the ringleaders. Pretending everyone is leaders is absurd.
False arrest story or Acquittal story next? by erroneus · 2011-06-10 05:48 · Score: 1

I get this sinking feeling that the three will be released due to insufficient evidence. But then again, this is the Spanish inquisition... nobody expects the Spanish inquisition.
1. Re:False arrest story or Acquittal story next? by Bloodwine77 · 2011-06-10 06:07 · Score: 1
  
  The fact that one of them ran an IRC server involved in coordination of attacks out of his home I'd say at least one of the three arrested isn't very bright and I wouldn't be surprised if at least one of them goes to jail.
2. Re:False arrest story or Acquittal story next? by marcansoft · 2011-06-10 06:08 · Score: 1
  
  They're already free - the charges they're pushing aren't enough to warrant preventative imprisonment.
3. Re:False arrest story or Acquittal story next? by Orffen · 2011-06-12 13:35 · Score: 1
  
  Yes, I too think this one suspect and his accomplice... no, two guys and their-- three men will be promptly released. Wait, I'm going to come in again.
Leader of Anon by Anonymous Coward · 2011-06-10 05:50 · Score: 1

is the Higgs boson!
You're EDITORS so EDIT! by Wannabe+Code+Monkey · 2011-06-10 05:51 · Score: 4, Insightful

Three people accused of being behind cyberattacks on the Sony PlayStation store, the Egyptian government and other targets have been arrested in Spain.
Really? Three people, along with the Egyptian government and other targets have been arrested in Spain? What was the Egyptian government doing in Spain? Was is on a vacation? That must have made quite the arrest.
Hint, this would have been much clearer:

Three people have been arrested in Spain for cyberattacks targeting the Sony PlayStation store, the Egyptian government, and others.

--
We always knew Comcast was corrupt, here's the proof: http://tech.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=1909890&cid=34545432
1. Re:You're EDITORS so EDIT! by Anonymous Coward · 2011-06-10 05:54 · Score: 1
  
  Even worse is the fact that TFA reads "Accused not involved in April PlayStation Network intrusion".
video by Anonymous Coward · 2011-06-10 05:52 · Score: 2, Informative

surreal speech from the spanish police about the operation: http://www.rtve.es/noticias/20110610/anonymous-va-seguir-pero-hemos-desmantelado-principal-servidor-espana/438788.shtml they compare anonymouse with al qaeda.. and they justify the sophisticated skills of the hackers with arguments like "they use wifi networks".. it looks like a monty python film..
1. Re:video by rbollinger · 2011-06-10 06:07 · Score: 3, Informative
  
  Is there more in the video that's not in the article? Because your comment is a way off:
  
  Aunque las acciones llevadas a cabo en la red pudieran "parecer trastadas", considera Vázquez, constituyen un auténtico "peligro". No en vano, "la OTAN considera estos 'ciberataques' una verdadera amenaza junto con Al Qaeda", recuerda el comisario de la BIT.
  Google Translated:
  
  Although the actions undertaken in the network would " seem pranks "believes Vazquez, are a real "danger" . Not surprisingly, "NATO considers this 'cyber' a real threat along with Al Qaeda," says the curator of the BIT.
  Basically it says NATO considers cyber attacks to be a real threat, just like Al Qaeda is a real threat. I don't see the Spanish Police saying anything that equates these hackers to AQ.
mod parent up by godrik · 2011-06-10 05:54 · Score: 1

fixing summary +5000
editor -5000
i wonder.... by metalmaster · 2011-06-10 05:54 · Score: 1

I know that the script kiddie running the application on his PC is just as guilty as the author of the tool, but wouldnt it be wiser to to find the one(dev or dev team) who commands the horde(script kiddie collective)?

An arrest is an arrest i guess. As long as law enforcement has something they'll run with it.
1. Re:i wonder.... by Bloodwine77 · 2011-06-10 06:05 · Score: 1
  
  Isn't LOIC one of the preferred tools of Anonymous? It shouldn't be that difficult to track down the developers. The project has both SourceForge and Github accounts.
2. Re:i wonder.... by Bloodwine77 · 2011-06-10 06:10 · Score: 1
  
  I hate that I cannot edit comments. I'm not saying that the developers of LOIC are involved with Anonymous, but your suggestion was to take down the tools. Granted, you could argue that the tools in of themselves aren't illegal. I could see a tool like LOIC being used for DDoS and security testing of your own network.
3. Re:i wonder.... by Cogita · 2011-06-10 06:12 · Score: 2
  
  Isn't LOIC one of the preferred tools of Anonymous? It shouldn't be that difficult to track down the developers. The project has both SourceForge and Github accounts.
  Isn't it a valid tool for stress testing websites developed by several individuals collectively? Sounds like you want to blame the creator of dynamite because some people use it to blow up bridges. Just because a tool can be used for a wrong purpose doesn't mean we blame the maker. Blame those who use it that way.
  
  --
  -- "The Price of Freedom of Speech, of Press, or of Religion is that we must put up with a good deal of rubbish."
4. Re:i wonder.... by an+unsound+mind · 2011-06-10 06:39 · Score: 1
  
  Are you saying we'll get another set of Nobel Awards if we run horrible articles on the author of LOIC? </completelymissingthepoint>
5. Re:i wonder.... by metalmaster · 2011-06-10 07:17 · Score: 1
  
  I guess I am missing the point. I was under the impression that they modified their tools to suit the needs of a particular attack
6. Re:i wonder.... by GameboyRMH · 2011-06-10 07:18 · Score: 1
  
  Exactly. Write a shellscript to do aggressive rapid-fire wgets, and OH NOES YOU MAED A DDOS TOOL!
  
  --
  "When information is power, privacy is freedom" - Jah-Wren Ryel
Huh.. by laxguy · 2011-06-10 06:01 · Score: 4, Insightful

Why is it that no one is discussing the article, or the implications of the arrests.. everyone is commenting on how you can't name the leader of Anonymous..

Just because you think you know what Anonymous is, doesn't mean that everyone else does.. it's easier to say there is a "leader" than to explain what it really is..not to mention that fact that they are doing this to themselves. When they start releasing statements and using Twitter and shit, someone is in charge of those things, hence the "leader" tag.

Lets try talking about the article instead of pretending we're cool enough to know how Anonymous works.
1. Re:Huh.. by blair1q · 2011-06-10 06:35 · Score: 1
  
  It's a valid argument.
  Anonymous doesn't have "a leader". It has a communications trope, and the "leader" of any particular act taken in its name is whoever gets the ball rolling within that trope and causes those taking action to choose to attribute it to Anonymous.
  Anonymous also doesn't really have "a future". Anonymity on the Internet isn't real. It's more like obscurity than anonymity. You can be tracked and located, and that's getting easier. Obscurity, however, only really works if you don't put a flashing light on your head. Which is the opposite of what participants in Anonymous' exploits do. So in order for Anonymous to survive, it needs to (a) start an internet that isn't traceable, or (b) stop doing things that draw attention to itself. Either of which means it no longer exists, becuase (a) they'll be the only ones on their private network and (b) if they don't do anything they stop existing.
  And then /. will get back its crown as the most powerful generator of DDoSes in the two universes.
2. Re:Huh.. by esocid · 2011-06-10 06:47 · Score: 1
  
  From my point of view, everyone is discussing the article. Yes, I did RTFA. They stated the three arrested are "leaders of the Spanish section of anonymous." Just because certain people are more active than others doesn't make them leaders. This is just another "tubes" moment where governments have no idea about what goes on in the technological world. The article also stated that no charges have been made, which leads me to believe that this was an order from somewhere high, because someone isn't happy, and wanted to send a message.
  
  The thing with anonymous organizations is that anyone can claim to be in them, create twitter groups, and send out "press releases." Everyone is on topic because the topic is the targeting of the "leadership" of anonymous, in this case the Spanish section, whatever that means.
  
  MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!
  
  --
  Absolute power corrupts absolutely. indymedia
3. Re:Huh.. by ArundelCastle · 2011-06-10 06:50 · Score: 1
  
  I appreciate your point, but do realize that comments telling the /. editors how to correct submission grammar also get modded +4 Insightful. (#36403418)
  Grammar nazis are nerds too. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4vf8N6GpdM
4. Re:Huh.. by laxguy · 2011-06-10 06:55 · Score: 1
  
  From my point of view, everyone is discussing the article. Yes, I did RTFA. They stated the three arrested are "leaders of the Spanish section of anonymous." Just because certain people are more active than others doesn't make them leaders. This is just another "tubes" moment where governments have no idea about what goes on in the technological world. The article also stated that no charges have been made, which leads me to believe that this was an order from somewhere high, because someone isn't happy, and wanted to send a message. The thing with anonymous organizations is that anyone can claim to be in them, create twitter groups, and send out "press releases." Everyone is on topic because the topic is the targeting of the "leadership" of anonymous, in this case the Spanish section, whatever that means. MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!
  If they're more active than others it seems reasonable to think they could be the leaders of the attack.. since you know.. they're doing it..
  I feel as though everyone is nit-picking the article over it's wording when it was created by someone not necessarily "in the loop" on the terms of the internet, I don't think you can really hold that against them. They arrested three people that were Spanish and actively taking part in Anonymous's action. Why wouldn't you call it the Spanish section of anonymous? It's a bunch of Spanish guys that live in Spain that are part of Anonymous.. seems like a Spanish part of Anonymous to me..
5. Re:Huh.. by laxguy · 2011-06-10 06:57 · Score: 1
  
  Thank you. I would mod this up if I could.
6. Re:Huh.. by GameboyRMH · 2011-06-10 07:22 · Score: 1
  
  Once the evidence comes down on them and there's real jail time they'll spill the names of everyone involved for a plea bargain. That's how it always works.
  LMFAO!!!! XD
  I'm picturing you as a grizzled old cop sipping coffee on his desk right now, who isn't too good with these computer things, but knows how criminals operate.
  
  --
  "When information is power, privacy is freedom" - Jah-Wren Ryel
7. Re:Huh.. by GameboyRMH · 2011-06-10 07:48 · Score: 1
  
  I see you GP.
  Yeah there's a hierarchy. A mostly transient, entirely fungible one.
  
  --
  "When information is power, privacy is freedom" - Jah-Wren Ryel
The propaganda has begun by mykos · 2011-06-10 06:01 · Score: 2

A few scapegoats who may not even be connected to the actual hackers are going to prison because governments want appear to be capable of capturing them.
1. Re:The propaganda has begun by chemicaldave · 2011-06-10 08:15 · Score: 1
  
  Who said they're going to prison. It's Spain, not China, and while I don't know the Spanish legal system, I assume they adhere to principles like presumption of innocence. This will all get sorted out in court and will only prove how much the police and media are ignorant of the subject matter.
The Usual Suspects by ThatsNotPudding · 2011-06-10 06:03 · Score: 1

Countries doing the bidding of foreign corporations. I don't expect these 'terrerists' to get much in the way of true justice - assuming they're not just fall guys.
Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition! by maetrix · 2011-06-10 06:06 · Score: 1

No really! Can YOU prove they expected this raid?! Just sayin'...

--
Dum spiro, spero --While I Breathe, I hope.
They mean IRC chanops by marcansoft · 2011-06-10 06:07 · Score: 5, Informative

That's basically what makes them "leaders of Anonymous", according to the police. Supposedly one of them ran an IRC server at home and the three were IRC operators. That's all. There's even a hilarious police screenshot featuring an IRC client and three huge red arrows. Because everyone knows that huge red arrows means they're the Bad Guys.
They're blaming some of the playstation store DDoS attacks on them (which Anonymous did take responsibility for), as well as DDoSing the SGAE (spanish RIAA) and some government websites as a response to recent legislation and social unrest. None of this has nothing to do with the PSN breach, it was just the usual Anonymous DDoS modus operandi.
New IRC server up in three, two, ... oh, wait, they probably set one up within minutes, certainly before Slashdot managed to pick up the story.
All of this seems to be a useless operation just so they can claim that they got *someone* for some of the DDoS attacks on government sites. Even the police knows this isn't going to stop anything, they're just making it look like some big breakthrough to appease the "victims" of the attacks.
They're charging them with a violation that could get them one to three years in prison. So, for now they're free (you don't get preventative imprisonment for that kind of charge), and I'd say there's a pretty good chance they'll end up dropping the charges due to lack of evidence.
1. Re:They mean IRC chanops by ShaunC · 2011-06-10 06:20 · Score: 1
  
  Interesting, I wonder if they've paid for that copy of mIRC.
  
  --
  Thanks to the War on Drugs, it's easier to buy meth than it is to buy cold medicine!
2. Re:They mean IRC chanops by Bill_the_Engineer · 2011-06-10 06:24 · Score: 1
  
  Because everyone knows that huge red arrows means they're the Bad Guys.
  I have been conditioned to believe that huge red arrow means a hunter is trying to kill the person under it.... :P
  
  --
  These comments are my own and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of my employer or colleagues...
3. Re:They mean IRC chanops by FatherOfONe · 2011-06-10 06:28 · Score: 1
  
  They're charging them with a violation that could get them one to three years in prison. So, for now they're free (you don't get preventative imprisonment for that kind of charge), and I'd say there's a pretty good chance they'll end up dropping the charges due to lack of evidence.
  Or they will go to prison and get ass raped. I know I wouldn't be sleeping well at night...
  
  --
  The more I learn about science, the more my faith in God increases.
4. Re:They mean IRC chanops by RdeCourtney · 2011-06-10 06:39 · Score: 2
  
  So they show: http://a.yfrog.com/img614/4012/cg4eai.jpg and then they're running Tor and uTorrent, I wonder what Torrents they're downloading whilst using Paint to put in big red arrows on an IRC chat? I wonder what the burning coliseum icon is?
  
  --
  Insert signature here...
5. Re:They mean IRC chanops by marcansoft · 2011-06-10 06:41 · Score: 1
  
  Judging by the uTorrent icon, my guess is they didn't.
6. Re:They mean IRC chanops by marcansoft · 2011-06-10 06:55 · Score: 1
  
  The coliseum icon is Nero Burning ROM.
  I wouldn't be surprised one bit if they warezed mIRC.
7. Re:They mean IRC chanops by pjt33 · 2011-06-10 07:47 · Score: 1
  
  Spain is a civilised country. The Inquisition has moved to the USA.
8. Re:They mean IRC chanops by Anonymous Coward · 2011-06-10 08:13 · Score: 1
  
  The DDoS was a retaliation for Sony accusing "Anonymous" of the Playstation Network breach. It's really quite hilarious that the authorities haven't picked up on that. Anonymous has never been in the business of trading credit card numbers and the like, and they probably never will be. They just have a couple ideas regarding "justice," usually involving defending kids that they think were bullied (or cats.. don't post pictures of a cat you harmed on /b/). If you target them, they think that you're bullying them (historically, this has been true) and they issue a retaliation.
  It's really unfortunate that these kids are going to get in so much trouble over this, because the whole business is as simple as downloading a program called LOIC and sticking the addresses that you're instructed to into it. In fact, the Anonymous attacks wouldn't work unless THOUSANDS of kids were doing this, because they don't maintain botnets, spread viruses, or do any of the things that the real professionals, the people that the police should (maybe) be going after do.
9. Re:They mean IRC chanops by cavreader · 2011-06-10 12:39 · Score: 1
  
  OK ,so since you know these kids there is nothing wrong with them breaking the law for a good cause? Apply that logic to governments free wheeling wire tapping. After all it's for a good cause. And I never claimed they were a danger to free society. They are a danger because their actions give those in power with more reasons to lock down the Internet to the point of uselessness.
10. Re:They mean IRC chanops by iiiears · 2011-06-10 19:53 · Score: 1
  
  If money is no object - Could they compare patterns of speech to narrow possible suspects. I think a few million entries and comparison to sites could put them very close. Imitating a foreign language speaker might make things easier for them. With dozens of log ons there is always a mistake everyone has some lazy in them.
  
  --
  15TW = 15,000 Nuclear Reactors. (Approx. one accident a month.)
11. Re:They mean IRC chanops by iiiears · 2011-06-10 19:59 · Score: 1
  
  They may be no threat on their own. They are useful idiots for inspiring the fear and uncertainty that changes policy in favor of those with established influence. It makes want to live in the long past days of B.B.S.'s and toys in cereal boxes.
  
  --
  15TW = 15,000 Nuclear Reactors. (Approx. one accident a month.)
Submitter didn't Read the full title by repapetilto · 2011-06-10 06:12 · Score: 1

What the hell? Now even the people submitting articles aren't reading them. Or even the entire title. Here is the full title:
'Anonymous' cyberattack arrests made in Spain
Accused not involved in April PlayStation Network intrusion
Re:We are Anonymous. by juancn · 2011-06-10 06:16 · Score: 1

We are Anonymous. We are Legion. We do not forgive. We do not forget. Expect us.
Sorry, I meant to say we're Anonymous Coward.
Re:"...leaders of the Spanish section..." by smelch · 2011-06-10 06:20 · Score: 1

Article: "Bert Nerdwell, a leader of biological research, suggests terraforming moon possible"
Slashdot Douches: "When will the media learn that calling somebody a leader of biological research makes about as much sense as saying I'm the leader of people who wear blue?"

I've said it a billion times it feels like, so mod this redundant: The people who are focused on the terms used to describe the people that are actually coordinating and implementing and participating in attacks are retards. If they can say they are anonymous, we can call them anonymous. Of all the people calling themselves anonymous, these are the leaders in being anonymous as they do the most anonymous-like stuff and coordinate people who also call themselves anonymous. Why is that so hard to get through your thick skulls?

I'm being trolled here, right? And all these "anonymous isn't a group" type postings is just a meme that I'm unaware of? Please tell me people aren't really this dumb. If I refer to somebody as a Christian leader, or a Islamic leader or a * leader it does not mean that I think Christian is a monolithic organization and all of us take orders from the top. Do you think the world is unfamiliar with classifications of people (groupings if you will) that lack top down leadership? Hippies, communists, capitalists, conservatives, liberals, bloggers, industrialists, terrorists, the KKK - you can refer to people as leaders of any of those groups without implying a top-down organization that encompasses all of them. How f*cking stupid can people get about this? You aren't clever, this is another case of "[mundane concept] ON THE INTERNET!"

--
If I can just reach out with my words and touch a butthole, just one, it will all be worth it.
Re:We are Anonymous. by SomeJoel · 2011-06-10 06:32 · Score: 1

We are Anonymous. We are Legion. We do not forgive. We do not forget. Expect us.
Sorry, I meant to say we're Anonymous Coward.
Sure you did, Juan.

--
<Complete your profile by adding a signature!>
Re:You must be an American... by GameboyRMH · 2011-06-10 07:03 · Score: 1

Most? I don't think a majority of countries have such laws.

--
"When information is power, privacy is freedom" - Jah-Wren Ryel
Re:We are Anonymous. by Raenex · 2011-06-10 07:03 · Score: 1

Mom's calling. Dinner is ready.
(3 people, Egyptian govt, other targets) in Spain by uncledrax · 2011-06-10 07:06 · Score: 1

"Three people accused of being behind cyberattacks on the Sony PlayStation store, the Egyptian government and other targets have been arrested in Spain. "
They arrested 3 people, the Egyptian Government, and other targets, while they were in Spain?.. odd.. must have been there on holiday? I mean I know the Egyptian government isn't as stable as it once was... oh well.

--
----- The internet has given everyone the ability to have their voice heard equally as loud.. even if they shouldn't be
Re:"...leaders of the Spanish section..." by GameboyRMH · 2011-06-10 07:10 · Score: 1

I'm being trolled here, right? And all these "anonymous isn't a group" type postings is just a meme that I'm unaware of?
Nope, real thing.

If I refer to somebody as a Christian leader, or a Islamic leader or a * leader it does not mean that I think Christian is a monolithic organization and all of us take orders from the top. Do you think the world is unfamiliar with classifications of people (groupings if you will) that lack top down leadership?
Well first, if someone called the leader of the "God hates Fags" idiots the Leader of the American Division of Christianity, would that be very accurate? Now let's say that guy's position was changed every time they got together, almost at random, with some random dude who had speaking skills volunteering to be the pastor. Wouldn't that make it hilariously inaccurate?

--
"When information is power, privacy is freedom" - Jah-Wren Ryel
Turnabout by rossz · 2011-06-10 08:08 · Score: 1

If they didn't want to get arrested, they should have secured their servers.

--
-- Will program for bandwidth
Re:We are Anonymous. by schnikies79 · 2011-06-10 08:25 · Score: 1

You are not legion, you're a semi-organized group of idiots. Shut up.

--
Gone!
Re:We are Anonymous. by Dan541 · 2011-06-10 10:57 · Score: 1

Mom's calling. Dinner is ready.
If you spend any time in their IRC you'll routinely see things like.
"Sorry anons, have to go to school now" and
"My Dad doesn't want me to do this" also
"Mom won't let me use the internet" past the anons bedtime.

--
An SQL query goes to a bar, walks up to a table and asks, "Mind if I join you?"
Re:(3 people, Egyptian govt, other targets) in Spa by threeseas · 2011-06-10 12:56 · Score: 1

And the Egyptian Gov isn't as big as it once was either...
And by comparison? by seeker_1us · 2011-06-10 12:57 · Score: 1

How many were arrested when Sony rootkitted the computers of their customers?