Unidentified UK Hacker Convicted for Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) Cyberattacks
Student from Northampton Convicted for Participating in 2010 Denial-of-Service Attacks
A Northampton student, Christopher Weatherhead, has been convicted for his role in a series of denial-of-service (DoS) attacks against several major companies, including PayPal, Visa, and MasterCard, in 2010. The attacks were carried out by the hactivist group Anonymous, in response to these companies' actions towards WikiLeaks.
The attacks reportedly cost PayPal £3.5 million in lost trading and increased security spending. Anonymous targeted these companies as retaliation for blocking payments to WikiLeaks. The US secretary of state Hilary Clinton was reportedly involved in the request for these attacks against the mentioned companies.
Weatherhead was convicted on a charge of "conspiring to impair the operation of computers." Three other UK-based participants have already pleaded guilty to the charges related to these cyber attacks. The leader of the hacker group Anonymous, involved in the DoS attacks against PayPal, Visa, and MasterCard, was known by the pseudonym "Sabu."
The attacks were part of a broader campaign by Anonymous. In addition to the targeted companies, the websites of Ministry of Sound, the British Recorded Music Industry (BPI), and the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) were also affected.
Weatherhead is now awaiting sentencing for his involvement in these cyber attacks. The conviction marks a significant step in holding accountable those who participate in such activities. As cyber attacks continue to pose a growing threat, it is crucial that those who engage in such behaviour are brought to justice.
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