LulzSec hacking: a timeline
LulzSec, the hacking group, have been implicated in several major online security breaches in recent months. Here is a timeline of their activity.
April 29 Fox Broadcasting is hacked, with emails and passwords of hundreds of employees accessed.
The Lulzsec logo. The hacker group has been implicated in several security breaches in recent months
May 29 PBS, the US public television station, has its website hacked into: LulzSec places a false story saying that the rapper Tupac Shakur, who was shot and killed in 1996, is alive on the PBS homepage.
June 2 The hackers break into Sony's intranet, accessing the private details of more than a million people and posting them online.
June 6 Nintendo becomes the latest victim of the group's hacking spree, although the group says: “We’re not targeting Nintendo. We like the N64 too much - we sincerely hope Nintendo plugs the gap.”
June 8 NHS patients face a potential security breach after the hackers gained access to health service passwords. LulzSec claims that it had accessed a system handling sensitive patient data. They say: “we mean you no harm and only want to help you fix your tech issues… we’re a somewhat known band of pirate-ninjas that go by LulzSec. Some time ago, we were traversing the internet for signs of enemy fleets. While you aren’t considered an enemy – your work is of course brilliant – we did stumble upon several of your admin passwords.”
June 16 The public website of the US Central Intelligence Agency goes down after the hacker group said it had launched an attack. The CIA site initially could not be accessed from New York to San Francisco, and Bangalore to London.
The same day, it is accused of hacking Sega's website, but denies involvement. A Twitter message from LulzSec said: “We want to help you destroy the hackers that attacked you. We love the Dreamcast, these people are going down.”
June 20 LulzSec apparently brings down the Serious and Organised Crime Agency (Soca) website.
June 21 Claims that Lulzsec stole the entire 2011 census database are denied by the group. Ryan Cleary, an alleged member of the hacking group, is arrested in Essex by specialist cyber crime officers from Scotland Yard. However, they deny involvement, saying on Twitter: "Just saw the pastebin of the UK census hack. That wasn't us - don't believe fake LulzSec releases unless we put out a tweet first."
June 26 LulzSec announces via Twitter that it will disband following its "50 day cruise" of "hope, inspiration, fear, denial, happiness, approval, disapproval, mockery, embarrassment, thoughtfulness, jealousy, hate, even love".
July 19 The website of The Sun newspaper is hacked and a spoof story announcing the death of Rupert Murdoch is published, including a reference to his supposed "famous topiary garden". LulzSec reemerges to claim credit.
July 20 A 16-year-old from south London is arrested for involvement in cyber attacks by both LulzSec and Anonymous. He is released on police bail pending further inquiries.
July 27 Met cyber crime officers travel to the Shetland Islands to arrest an 18-year-old who they allege is "Topiary", LulzSec's main spokesman and thought to be behind its nautically-themed public relations. He is taken to London for questioning, while a 17-year-old is also questioned under caution in Lincolnshire.
July 31 The Shetlander alleged to be "Topiary" is charged with offences relating to LulzSec's attack on the Soca website and named as Jake Davis.
August 1 Davis is bailed at City of Westminster Magistrates Court on conditions he wears an electronic tag and does not access the internet.
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