WikiLeaks dispute sparks cyber wars

A group called Anonymous temporarily disables the websites of Visa and MasterCard after they said they would no longer handle donations to WikiLeaks. A rival 'patriotic' hacker, the Jester, fights back.  http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-wikileaks-web-attacks-20101209,0,5711995.story

By Brian Bennett, Los Angeles Times

December 8, 2010  

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-wikileaks-web-attacks-20101209,0,5711995.story

Reporting from Washington — 

A worldwide dispute overWikiLeaks' release of classified information raged online Wednesday like a tale from a comic book: The Jester battled a hacker network calling itself Anonymous that claimed responsibility for taking down the websites of several major corporations.

Anonymous took credit for disabling the main websites for MasterCard and Visa, among several attacks launched against companies that in recent days announced they would no longer handle donations to WikiLeaks.

Cyber attacks also were reported against an attorney representing two Swedish women who have accused WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange of sexual assault, as well as on PostFinance, the financial arm of the Swiss postal system that closed Assange's account after accusing him of providing false information.

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Amazon and PayPal also have been targeted.

Meanwhile the Jester has claimed responsibility for taking down WikiLeaks' website several times since it posted its first batch of confidential State Department cables on Nov. 29. The Jester, who describes himself as a patriotic hacker with a military background, claims other like-minded hackers have approached him to help...  http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-wikileaks-web-attacks-20101209,0,5711995.story

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