LulzSec leader turns out to be FBI mole

A leading player in hacktivist group LulzSec has been feeding the FBI information for months. That’s according to a report from Fox News.

The report claims that Hector Xavier Monsegur, whose online moniker is ‘Sabu’, helped officials locate five top-ranking members of the group across two continents.

Two of the suspects are from the UK, another two are from Ireland, and the fifth is a US citizen.

Speaking to Fox News, an FBI official claimed the arrests would be “devastating to the organisation,” and that the agency would be “chopping off the head of LulzSec” with the arrests.

The Fox news report claims that the FBI has actually unmasked Sabu in June last year. The hacker reportedly pleaded guilty to 12 hacking related charges, after which he became a cooperating witness.

According to TheNextWeb, Sabu fronted LulzSec and fielded any questions directed at the hacking collective.

The hacking community, particularly those with an affiliation to fellow hacking group Anonymous reacted negatively to the revelation.

Good Morning… I woke up this morning to find out Sabu was a leak himself… #SMH #Anonymous #Lulzsec

— Anonymous (@OperationLeakS) March 6, 2012

@OperationLeakS SMH as well, what a piece. He’s even enjoying a donut like an FBI piggie.

— Occupy Central Cali (@OccupyCentralCA) March 6, 2012

Pic related: i.imgur.com/DMiNm.jpg It’s #Sabu after trolling #anonymous. #lulz

— Anonymous Operations (@Anon_Central) March 6, 2012

The group’s Swedish representative sent out a tweet suggesting that any efforts by law enforcement officials would ultimately prove fruitless:

Worldwide Estimated Number Of Anons = 35,000 | Arrested = 125 | Convictions = 0 | Not exactly winning are they? #Anonymous

— Anonymous Sweden (@AnonOpsSweden) March 6, 2012

Fox claims that its sources identified the five suspects as: Ryan Ackroyd, aka “Kayla” and Jake Davis, aka “Topiary,” both of London; Darren Martyn, aka “pwnsauce” and Donncha O’Cearrbhail, aka “palladium,” both of Ireland; and Jeremy Hammond aka “Anarchaos,” of Chicago.

Together, LulzSec and Anonymous have breached the security of banks, public transport systems, and government agencies. Anonymous most recently made headlines after taking the Greek government’s website and publishing an intercepted call between the FBI and the UK’s Metropolitan Police.

TheNextWeb seems to think that the LulzSec arrest could unsettle the Anonymous legions. The defiant stance being put forward by a number of the group’s social media accounts suggests otherwise:

Never forget: We are Legion. We do not have a leader nor will we ever. #Anonymous –> The best #idea on Earth.

— Anonymous (@YourAnonNews) March 6, 2012

#Anonymous is an idea. It’s not a group; no single entity can represent the whole; no action in the name of Anyonmous is an “official op”.

— Anonymous (@GroupAnon) February 23, 2012

We do not forget LulzSec youtube.com/watch?v=BdqoSW… United as One, Divided by Zero #Anonymous #Anonymiss #FuckThePolice #OWS #WikiLeaks #FreeBrad

— Anonymous Action (@AnonymousAction) March 6, 2012

Image: goblinbox (queen of ad hoc bento)