If you thought LulzSec was just "in it for the lulz" then you may just be mistaken. It appears LulzSec has teamed up with Anonymous to target governments, banks, and large corporations. What's more, the group is calling for other hackers to unite under this cause which they have coined Operation AntiSec.
"Welcome to Operation Anti-Security (#AntiSec) - we encourage any vessel, large or small, to open fire on any government or agency that crosses their path. We fully endorse the flaunting of the word "AntiSec" on any government website defacement or physical graffiti art. We encourage you to spread the word of AntiSec far and wide, for it will be remembered. To increase efforts, we are now teaming up with the Anonymous collective and all affiliated battleships."
The letter goes on to call for others to "join the rebellion" and calls out the top priority target for all attacks.
"Top priority is to steal and leak any classified government information, including email spools and documentation. Prime targets are banks and other high-ranking establishments. If they try to censor our progress, we will obliterate the censor with cannonfire anointed with lizard blood."
A rash of speculation has said that at one time LulzSec members were likely members of Anonymous. If that speculation is true then this pairing is hardly surprising.
Operation AntiSec isn't the only evidence that LulzSec is interested in something besides just a bunch of laughs on the internet. Over the weekend the LulzSec twitter account reached 1000 tweets and with that milestone, 140 character message came a press release. In that press release LulzSec does make the point that they are entertained by the results of their posted, personal information saying "This is the Internet, where we screw each other over for a jolt of satisfaction."
The other more interesting side of that release discusses the fact that people should feel safer because of LulzSec. The argument made is that by posting that information and making it public, they are giving users a chance to change passwords. LulzSec feels that users should be more afraid of the hackers who do not make their exploits public, "This is what you should be fearful of, not us releasing things publicly, but the fact that someone hasn't released something publicly."
It will be interesting to see who LulzSec and Anonymous choose to go after and what kind of effect their actions will have. Will governments be forced to create stricter laws for how to handle and store user data? Will corporations become more mindful of how their employees manage passwords, and the security of their networks? Only time will give the answers.
