Legal Commentary

FBI Raids "Anonymous" Hackers Over Wikileaks-Related DDOS Attacks

By Jeralyn

The FBI explains the 40 search warrants it executed yesterday pertaining to "Anonymous", a group of hackers that engaged in Denial of Service (DDOS)attacks on MasterCard, Visa, Paypal and Amazon as retaliation for cutting off Wikileaks.

No one was arrested in the U.S. but the offenses, if charged, carry up to ten years in prison. The FBI says:

The FBI also is reminding the public that facilitating or conducting a DDoS attack is illegal, punishable by up to 10 years in prison, as well as exposing participants to significant civil liability.

The five people arrested in the U.K. after warrants were executed there have been released on bail. Anonymous issued this letter in response to the U.K. arrests, calling them a "Declaration of War." [More...]

The hackers are online discussing the raids. One person who was raided seemed astonished the guns the FBI pointed at him were real. (Image of post here.)

6am, door busted down (NOT KIDDING), "FBI FBI FBI POLICE FBI GET YOUR ARMS UP AND DONT MOVE THEM. WALK DOWNSTAIRS RIGHT NOW. DO NOT MOVE YOUR HANDS." --- TWO REAL GUNS POINTED AT ME.

me in 1 cop car, gf in other car.

took 3.5 hrs, all electronic devices taken including 3 computers. said nearly nothing. finally left.

That's pretty funny. Did he think the FBI would use toy guns? On a more serious note, here's a list of the items sought to be seized according to one warrant.

How did they get to Anonymous? Probably through the search warrant served last month on Tailor Made Services.

Anonymity on the internet is a myth.

Full post as published by TalkLeft on January 28, 2011 (boomark / email).