LulzSec hacker pleads guilty

GlobalPost

Alleged LulzSec hacker Cody Kretsinger plead guilty in a California courtroom to hacking Sony last June. His plea follows two new hacks carried out by LulzSec Reborn, a group made up of new members carrying out new hacks in the spirit of their predecessors.

As part of a deal with prosecutors, Kretsinger admitted guilt in one count of conspiracy and one count of unauthorized impairment of a protected computer.

"I joined LulzSec, your honor, at which point we gained access to the Sony Pictures website," Kretsinger, who went by the hacking moniker "Recursion," told the judge. 

In May of last year, following a hack targeting the Playstation Networks, LulzSec used an SQL injection to gain access to Sony’s website, stealing personal information belonging to thousands of people. Sony later stated that the hack caused $600,000 in damaged, a figure presented to the court as evidence against Kretsinger.

"From a single injection we accessed EVERYTHING," LulzSec said after the hack took place last May. "Why do you put such faith in a company that allows itself to become open to these simple attacks?"

Sentencing for Kretsinger is schedule for July 26. He faces up to 15 years in prison. However, as part of the plea agreement, he will likely receive a much less severe sentence. 

More from GlobalPost: LulzSec sets sail again

During their 50-day hacking spree during the summer of 2011, the group took credit for attacks on sites belonging to Sony, PBS.org, the US Senate, CIA, Arizona sheriffs and many others. Since the hacking spree, LulzSec members have come under increased pressure from law enforcement. Many members of the collective were arrested, including hackers Sabu and Topiary.

After his arrest, Sabu worked with the FBI, leading to three more arrests and two charges of conspiracy against other members of LulzSec.

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