Operation AntiSec Arrests Appears To Be Ramping Up

If recent arrests prove to be the start of a continuous chain, then members of Operation AntiSec and their respective Anonymous and LulzSec groups, may have reason for concern. Earlier this week, FBI agents in Nevada arrested 20-year-old Mercedes Renee Haefer for her alleged participation in DDoS attacks against PayPal’s website, and last week, alleged hacker ‘T-Flow’ was arrested in South London as the result of a partnership between US, UK and Dutch authorities.

The situation has become even more rocky with the news that LulzSec’s spokesperson, ‘Topiary’, has been arrested in the northern UK Shetland Islands. While in custody, police continue to search the premises where Topiary was arrested. While LulzSec itself doesn’t seem to have confirmed the arrest, it has issued a request to those who agree with AntiSec beliefs.

The request is simple: boycott PayPal; not only by not using it, but by closing down your accounts entirely to show the company that you mean business. While AntiSec’s movements haven’t only targeted PayPal, that company has still not lifted the ability for WikiLeaks to retrieve donations they should have the right to access, hence the request for a boycott.

Another reason could be the fact that many of the arrests so far have seemed to stem from the PayPal attacks, with PayPal itself having handed over the top 1,000 DDoS-derived IP addresses. As reported by Wired yesterday, January saw the issuing of 40 search warrants based on the IPs found in this list, and last week, the first 14 defendants were charged under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, and another 35 became suspects for evidence.

Despite all of the arrests, AntiSec appears to be as defiant as ever, and whether or not you agree with their cause, you almost have to admire their determination. It’s only a matter of time before we can see just how far this determination can possibly go.