How the US government used a hacker turned informant to disrupt 300 web attacks

A prominent hacker set to be sentenced in US federal court this week for breaking into numerous computer systems worldwide has provided a trove of information to the authorities, allowing them to disrupt at least 300 cyber attacks on targets that included the US military, Congress, the federal courts, NASA and private companies, according to a newly filed government court document.

How the US government used a hacker turned informant to disrupt 300 web attacks 1401064505884

How the US government used a hacker turned informant to disrupt 300 web attacks 1401064505884

The hacker, Hector Xavier Monsegur, also helped the authorities dismantle a particularly aggressive cell of the hacking collective Anonymous, leading to the arrest of eight of its members in Europe and the United States, including Jeremy Hammond, who the FBI said was its top "cybercriminal target", the document said. Hammond is serving a 10-year prison term.

The court document was prepared by prosecutors who are asking a judge, Loretta A. Preska, for leniency for Monsegur because of his "extraordinary cooperation". He is set to be sentenced on Tuesday in US District Court on hacking conspiracy and other charges that could result in a long prison term.

http://www.smh.com.au/it-pro/security-it/how-the-us-government-used-a-hacker-turned-informant-to-disrupt-300-web-attacks-20140526-zrnza.html

How the US government used a hacker turned informant to disrupt 300 web attacks

How the US government used a hacker turned informant to disrupt 300 web attacks

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