Ben-DutkaWe could just call them "computer hackers." But law enforcement officials correctly label them "criminals."
As the New York Times reports, the Spanish police have arrested three individuals suspected of major hacking offenses, including the recent attacks on Sony's PlayStation Network. The National Police have identified the three in custody "as the local leadership of the shadowy international network of computer hackers known as Anonymous." Yeah, we're familiar with their work.
The police statement reminds us that Anonymous is comprised of people from all over the world; they're just organized into cells to serve a common goal. …sounds a hell of a lot like terrorism, doesn't it? Evidently, one of the men they have in custody had a computer server in his apartment in Gijon, "from which the group attacked the Web sites of the Sony PlayStation online gaming store." That same computer was used to attack two Spanish banks, BBVA and Bankia, as well as the Italian energy company Enel, and various government sites in Spain, Egypt, Algeria, Libya, Iran, Chile, Columbia, and New Zealand.
This has been an ongoing investigation as of last October, when hackers broke into the Spanish Ministry of Culture's website to protest Spanish legislation increasing punishments for illegal downloads. All three suspects in question are expected to be charged with "forming an illegal association to attack public and corporate Web sites." …the fact that this only carries a maximum sentence of three years in prison is just plain depressing.
Sony has said the attacks on the PSN will cost at least $173 million in damages. And by the way, the police said they analyzed more than "two million lines of chat logs since October." …that's a lot of lines.
Well, they may only face three years, but with a record, they'll remain under suspicion, and if they do anything else I bet they're subject to a harsher sentence…
Better still, this arrest might lead to further intelligence and further arrests…go get 'em boys.
From the article : "The police statement reminds us that Anonymous is comprised of people from all over the world; they're just organized into cells to serve a common goal. …sounds a hell of a lot like terrorism, doesn't it?"
Yes, it does sound like terrorism. To me, the attack on Sony was not just a criminal attack since the attackers were explicitly using the fear and concern of the customers to hurt Sony. This is *exactly* the way terrorists engender fear in citizens to put pressure on a government. What these idiots have done is, by definition, terrorism. To be honest, it'd almost be better for them (in my mind) if they had simply been criminals out for a buck. But people that use fear as a weapon against others are – in truth – terrorists.
Last edited by TheHighlander on 6/10/2011 10:54:49 AM
Terrorist is an excellent descriptor if you ask me!
Highlander is right.
To inflict fear and to seek to control through that fear. That is by definition terrorism.
3 years is too little.
If it was up to me I'd put them in jail for 10 FULL years (no day/night bullshit). 10 Full years.
Soft governments annoy the hell out of me.
Last edited by Scarecrow on 6/10/2011 11:16:33 AM
Good, 3 scumbag's down, and many more to go.
Let's hope this confiscated info on their computers, plus anything else found in their homes, cars, businesses, etc, etc, can also lead a great trail to catching all the other A-holes across the globe.
Shame the sentence is only going to wind up as a slap on the wrist though.
They should incarcerated long enough that their newly-grown Rip Van Winkle beards will reach our Statue Of Liberty a 100,000 times over.
And all of their hide-behind-their-computer butts get gang-hacked on a constant twice-hourly rate, daily!!!!!!
Yes, 3 years is pretty pathetic given the magnitude of their acts; both financially and to the consumer base. HOWEVER, on the plus side….it' will be a Spanish prison which, while not as bad as some places, is still pretty damn harsh!
It should be 3 years for every person/customer that was affected. So for PSN attack alone, 77 million x 3 years…
Awesome news but shouldn't they be gi/en the same restrictions that Sony was going to gi/e geohot except without singling out Sony's brand? I would be more pleased with knowing they could ne/er ha/e access to a computer again than with any amount of jailtime. Then they would ha/e no reason to li/e. 🙂
(Sorry about the retarded /'s guys that key on my keyboard refuses to work so I had to impro/ise)
As much as I want blood…
I have no problem with 3 years PER COUNT for intrusion for the purpose of mischief (e.g., posting a "political" message); it's comparable to B & E sentences. However, actual theft (including personal data) should be charged one count for each person affected.
Losses incurred as a result of the incursion should be handled in civil court. Perhaps debt slavery is in order? ;P
In celebration of the arrest of 3 Spanish leaders of anon, I'm now using as my sig pic, the anon mask's mug shot taken from their police station.
(And if you don't hear from me in the next 7 days, that means one of their pu**ies hacked my computer), LOL
Highlander,
Wow, I think you've just broken the "Thumbs-up" record with this one, because if I can remember clearly, the old record for "Up" thumbs stood at 42 UP.
sooooo……."Congrats"
LOL
Personally 3 years is WAY to light in a situation like this since they have an apparentely long laundry list of offencives.
If it was up to me they would be slit from nuts to neck and left out for the carrion birds…
Score one for the good guys. I love the fact that you stated why they attacked the Spanish Ministry of Culture. Let's everyone here get a really good idea of the motivations behind these individuals.
It isn't about some crusade to champion the rights of consumers, if anything it is the complete opposite. It is a lash out for governments making it more risky to steal, or in other words, punishment for NOT being a costumer whose rights they claim to be saving.
All their motivations are entirely 100% selfish.
That irritates me the most. These guys (gals) insist on speaking on my behalf… well guess what, Anonymous, you don't and never will speak for the "people". Your actions only make our lives more complicated, which in turn hurt the same "people" you claim to be helping.
Nice to see these criminals apprehended. I agree that 3 years is to light of sentence, but at least a piece of their lives will be lost forever behind bars.
Don't forget that they will also spend the rest of their life being a 'person of interest' to the police anytime a cyber attack occurs.
@TheHighlander
Very true. No matter what happens now they are marked for life. And there's nothing anyone can do about it.
Let's hope the Spanish prison will play the 1978 Brad Davis movie, "Midnight Express", every every single day.
And play it just before the inmates community shower time!
Good, well, they should call in MvC's Captain America and perform a 'Final Justice' on the each of them.
There we go!
It just makes me so happy to know that the people who stole millions of peoples information, cost Sony millions of dollars, and also lost other developers some revenue, are facing jail time, I wish it was more than three years, but at least they were caught.
Reading that thread title made my day.
And the article itself made my week!
Last edited by Nas Is Like on 6/10/2011 11:26:09 AM
The thing is that these guys act with revenge, and now that 3 of their partners are down, maybe they will attack again. But it is a good thing they are starting to go down little by little. And perhaps with a good technique, they'll tell more valuable info to police.
Lets not forget that 3 persons are a very few compared to the total number of criminals in that group. It is great to see some advance in the investigations.
Last edited by godsdream on 6/10/2011 11:30:53 AM
Godsdream, I'm diggin your avatar. It seems to me like I've seen it somewhere lol.
Great choice
The more they act in retaliation, the more of a threat they become to government institutions – the greater the likelihood that other agencies become involved and people start being arrested by operatives wearing ski-masks and charcoal fatigues.
Last edited by TheHighlander on 6/10/2011 11:52:50 AM
Just a question, but the sentanceof 3 yyears for this type of crime, is that for the us, or everywhere? Cause I know different countries have different sentances. Like a 1st offence d.u.I in the states is a maximum of a couple months in jail, where in some countries a 1st offence d.u.I is punishable by life in prison.
So it COULD just be 3 years here in the states, but in spain it could be much much more. Let us hope for the latter.
And I hope they find more of these terrorists, and punish them all. To the fullest extent. These people weren't just hacking other peoples games, they were after personal information, I.e. cc numbers, ss numbers, addresses …etc.
It seems to me that the punishment should be more than 3 years..
But atleast we got three of them.
Let's hope these 3 go to some horrible prison like on that show "arressted abroad" or whatever its called.
Ben said it's 3 years in Spain.
Locked up Abroad, good show.
Your question is valid. These guys are international criminals. They may also face charges from other countries as well. Not to mention possible civil suits from individuals and Sony itself. Spain has first dibs.
I have always known that these times will come. Kaz Hirai himself stated that these types are a danger to the very fabric of society. Sony was never really alone in this battle. They had the balls to take this up a few notches. I wondered if other companies would stand with Sony on this but they chose the right to. remain silent. I commend Sony for taking the beating they did to get that point across.
Last edited by FatherSun on 6/10/2011 5:14:37 PM
The NY Times was wrong on one thing….
They are NOT Hacktivists…they ARE common thugs!
"But, but, but, it can't possibly be Anonymous…drrrrr, because they said it wasn't them."
/
Oops, Sorry Biker, my post wasn't meant to be a reply to you. Just a general comment. Ben, would you kindly delete these? Thanks. 🙂
No, it's cool Jawknee,
I knew what you were saying right off the bat, a little sarcasm towards anon.
Hey Jawk, where the hell have you been? lol
He is / was on tour with his band in Europe.
I'm sure he's found better things to do than communicate with the likes of us.
Last edited by Fane1024 on 6/10/2011 7:40:41 PM
Ha, not on tour yet. That doesn't happen until August. I have been in California preparing with the band though. Just been super busy and have limited access to the net and cell service.
By the way, we are playing around 9 shows in the UK. I will know all the dates and venues in the coming months. If anyone from this site and from the UK is interested in coming, I'll post a link for the dates in the forums if Ben doesn't mind.
I know for sure we are playing 3 shows in Spain with the Flatliners too.
Ha! Put that in your Paella and smoke it!
I know some people roll their own, but you *smoke* Paella!?
😮
Nah, I just needed something Spanish to say. Paella came to mind first…
hmm… I'm also 25 minutes late for my lunch break….
I've heard of Paella as a saffron-flavored Spanish dish made with varying combinations of rice, vegetables, meat, chicken, and seafood.
But I never knew you could roll it & smoke it, LOL.
(Damn, that description just made me hungry)
Last edited by BikerSaint on 6/10/2011 12:20:41 PM
LOL! For some reason I am now thinking about smoked tamales.
YAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!
I hope they also lose the ability to use a touch tone phone, just like Zero Cool in "Hackers"……that'll show 'em!
Glad justice got served.
Arrested doesn't mean convicted.
thats a big suck it to them…
oh and 3 years is plenty of time for them to at least meet their favorite inmate… big bubba
And in other news…. Catherine has an official US release date of July 26th!!!
Just in time for me to use that $20 off coupon for getting LA Noire at K-Mart.
Burn them. like the middle ages times.
(in Chris Walken Voice)
Yesterday, this little creature was, playin', swimmin', doing little tumble turns in the sea. Boil him. Boil them all.
Last edited by main_event05 on 6/10/2011 2:18:32 PM
"But, but, but, it can't possibly be Anonymous…drrrrr, because they said it wasn't them."
/
Glad they finally nailed these chumps. Hope this leads them to more of these cyber terrorists.