Collateral Damage from the Cyberwars

Given how little people venture out from the big headlines in the news, I don’t know if most are aware of the increased “hacking” going on.  So far this week, I’ve had to change two passwords on accounts that were compromised or suspected of being compromised.  LulzSec were responsible for the data breach over at Bioware’s old Neverwinter Nights forums and that spilled over to some EA accounts, mine included. I was hoping EA was being overly paranoid when they reset my password, but another account just made me do the same thing.

That just shows how you can have problems even if you avoid the dark side of the Internet. If you ever have an account anywhere, it can be compromised due to no fault of your own. But you still have to be vigilant since the weakest points in computer security are the users themselves. Don’t even get me started about how easy it is to get infected on Facebook through third party apps.

Meanwhile, the shut-ins who make up groups like LulzSec and Anonymous have been on a tear this month, gleefully hacking databases and exposing information in them in the name of opposing censorship. Targets included credit card companies, law enforcement, gaming communities, and government agencies. For all their posturing about being liberal avengers fighting against fascist government, LulzSec have proven to be a bunch of immature script kiddies who don’t care if anyone is hurt. Exposing personal information of Arizona law enforcement agents is simply asking for drug gangs to kill those agents and their families.

They declared an end to their activities but word comes today of them merging with Anonymous and more cyber terror is to follow.  Especially since they have inspired others to become “hacktivists.” Their lack of understanding of the concepts of cause and effect is going to bite everyone on their rears, sadly.

Governments worldwide have proven to be not amused at these “funny” antics. I expect to see a tightening and increase in laws related to cybercrimes because of these actions. In other words, the exact opposite of what LulzSec’s purported goals were. More censorship, more government oversight of the Net, and easier access to data by law enforcement are sure to come.

Brilliant job there, hackers.