LulzSec
("Lulz Security") a group of skilled computer hackers/cyber-griefers
have earned a reputation for controversy. They took down parts of the
computer network of
famed hacker publication 2600, arbitrarily
due to a feud with a single Dutch user. They hacked PBS in what some argue was an
attempt to subvert the new network's freedoms of speech and the press.
And they posted user
names and plaintext passwords of elderly users (and others) from
recent system intrusions [1][2][3] at Sony
Corp. (TYO:6758).
But the group's latest effort is unlikely to create much controversy.
After all the affected party was asking for it-- literally.
LulzSec defaced the
homepage of the "Cybersecurity For The 21st Century, Hacking
Challenge" sponsored by Black & Berg Cybersecurity Consulting,
LLC. Black & Berg who do contract work for government agencies and
private companies writes:
Change this website's homepage picture and win $10K and a position working with
Senior Cybersecurity Advisor, Joe Black.
You can probably guess where this is going. LulzSec altered the page
background slightly and photoshopped their monocled mascot into the picture
displayed on the page. And amusingly they refused the cash prize stating:
DONE, THAT WAS EASY. KEEP YOUR MONEY WE DO IT
FOR THE LULZ
Given
that the group recently hacked a U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigations
affiliate, it's not terribly surprising that they wouldn't want to compromise
their location by accepting a prize from a public contest. As Admiral
Ackbar would say, "It's a trap!" (Potentially, at least.) Perhaps
they should have offered the prize in bitcoins.
Founder Joseph K. Black took to Twitter, posting praise for the group. He writes:
Black & Berg Cybersecurity Consulting
appreciate all the hard work that you're putting in. Your Hacking = Clients for
us. Thx ~Joe
We've
said it once, and we'll say it again -- for better or worse, we doubt this is
the last we'll see of LulzSec.
