FBI makes LulzSec arrests


23 Sep 2011

The FBI arrested a member of hacking group LulzSec for attacking Sony Pictures Entertainment, with LulzSec’s alleged ringleader claiming there are only two members left who have not been arrested.

The FBI stated that 23-year-old Cody Kretsinger was arrested yesterday under charges for conspiracy and the unauthorised impairment of a protected computer.

It believes that Kretsinger, also known online as “recursion,” was part of an attack which used an SQL injection against Sony Pictures’ computer systems. He masked his IP address using a proxy server.

The FBI also alleged that Kretsinger, along with others involved in the attack, distributed this information and posted it on LulzSec’s website.

Krestsinger will appear before the US District Court in Phoenix today, before being removed to LA, the area where he was charged, to face prosecution. If convicted, he could serve a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison.

Along with this, Fox News reports that others involved with LulzSec and hacktivist collective Anonymous were arrested. Christopher Doyon (47) and 26-year-old Joshua Covelli were both reportedly charged with conspiracy to cause intentional damage to a protected computer after both allegedly took part in attack against Santa Cruz County, California’s computer servers.

LulzSec, which is affiliated with Anonymous, undertook several high-profile cyber attacks against Sony, Nintendo, Fox.com and the US Senate this year. There have been several arrests made since, including that of its spokesman “Topiary” and Ryan Cleary, who ran its IRC server.

Sabu, who is reportedly the ‘ringleader’ of the group, said on Twitter there are now only two members of LulzSec who have not been arrested.