Two Lulzsec Hackers Plead Guilty To High-Profile Website Attacks

Ryan Clearly of Wickford, England and Jake Davis of Lerwick, England plead guilty on Monday for their part in hacking various websites as part of the Lulzsec hacktivist group. Among their local and international corporate and government victims were the Central Intelligence Agency, Sony, Fox Entertainment Group, the Arizona State Police and Britain’s Serious Organized Crime Agency (SOCA).

The 17 and 19-year-old teenagers face charges that include posting unlawfully obtained data on sites such as PasteBin and Pirate Bay.

Clearly was arrested last June after a series of high-profile hacks including denial of service (DDOS) attacks against SOCA. Clearly was also charged with attacking the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) site and the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) website in 2010

Cleary also faces charges in the United States after he assisted in the attack of Sony and Fox among various other companies. Authorities in the United States have already said they will seek extradition so they can officially charge Clearly with his crimes.

Jake Davis, better known to his followers as “Topiary” was found to have incriminating evidence on a computer seized from his home, according to police the computer included pre-paid credit card with false names and passwords for 750,000 various user accounts. His computer also featured drafts of a fake news story about the death of Rupert Murdoch, a story that eventually was planted on Murdoch’s News International publishing website.

Two other suspected Lulzsec members Ryan Ackroyd and an unnamed 17-year-old individual plead not guilty to all charges filed against them.