Anonymous Hacks US Site to Avenge Aaron Swartz

Government's sentencing agency is the target
By John Johnson,  Newser Staff
Posted Jan 26, 2013 9:55 AM CST

The hackers of Anonymous have hit the website of the US Sentencing Commission in revenge for the prosecution of Aaron Swartz, reports CNN. The site ussc.gov remained down as of this morning. The hackers say they have stolen sensitive Justice Department files—naming them after Supreme Court justices—and threatened to release them unless the federal government reformed its sentencing system. (The family of free-information activist Swartz say he killed himself because he faced years of jail time thanks to overzealous prosecutors.)

It's not clear what files Anonymous might have gotten, writes ZDNet blogger Violet Blue, who provides details on the hack. But the group, which said a "line had been crossed" with the Swartz prosecution, issued this cryptic warning: "The contents are various and we won’t ruin the speculation by revealing them. Suffice it to say, everyone has secrets, and some things are not meant to be public." The group also issued a related video, which is in the gallery. (More Anonymous stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X