Hactivists Reportedly Use Computers Based in Russia

"Sean-Paul Correll, a Los Angeles-based researcher at software firm Panda Security, says the [pro-Wikileaks] effort is a loose-knit group that uses servers hosted in Russia, but that there is no reason to believe that is where the individuals are based."

The Wall Street Journal (12-8-10) reports:

A growing list of organizations and individuals that have tangled with WikiLeaks and its detained founder, Julian Assange, have suffered online attacks, in what appears to be an effort by hackers bent on exacting revenge for the document-leaking website...

While it isn't clear exactly who is behind the attacks, some security specialists say they are being organized by a group of online activists calling themselves "Anonymous" as part of the so-called "Operation Payback" effort.

Sean-Paul Correll, a Los Angeles-based researcher at software firm Panda Security, says the effort is a loose-knit group that uses servers hosted in Russia, but that there is no reason to believe that is where the individuals are based. He added that the group appeared to be able to corral thousands of computers, which are then used to bombard servers of a target Web site with data.