In the relative safety of Internet anonymity, leaders of hacking groups, such as Anonymous and Lulz Security, command their followers to launch attacks on whomever of their choosing without much worry of being caught. But recently, federal agents have begun zeroing in on these leaders with inside help.

Hector Monsegur, who is known as Sabu on the Internet, was revealed to be the leader and founder of Lulz Security (abbreviated LulzSec), an offshoot of Anonymous, on March 6.

Junior Eugene Che learned of Monsegur on an Internet website called Reddit that aggregates interesting things found on the Internet into a convenient hub. He said that Monsegur was initially arrested and charged with various hacking related crimes in August.

“[Monsegur] has been working as an informant for the FBI since he was first arrested,” Che said.
Through Monsegur, the FBI has since arrested several other suspected hackers.

Che said that even though some hackers try to protest something, they should ultimately be responsible for their actions.

“I think that malicious actions, done even through the freedom of the Internet, should be prosecuted to the fullest extent,” Che said.

He added that even the professed mission of LulzSec marks the organization as criminal.

“Other hacker organizations at least try to effect a political or social change even though they may use questionable tactics,” Che said. “LulzSec just wants to cause mayhem ‘for the lulz’ (for fun).”
Junior Sarah Kuo, who also learned of Monsegur on Reddit, commented that he was trapped between a rock and a hard spot.

“[The situation] is similar to the Salem Witch Trials,” Kuo said. “[Monsegur] had to choose between selling out his friends or risk being imprisoned for life.”