7 Mar 2012

'Hackers' arrested in international swoop

2:24 pm on 7 March 2012

The FBI says computer hackers accused of attacking government and company websites in the United States and overseas have been arrested and charged.

Seven alleged hackers based in the US, UK and Republic of Ireland have been charged with crimes related to computer attacks said to have affected over one million victims, the BBC reports.

The FBI said five of the men were involved in the group Lulzsec, while a sixth was a member of Antisec.

It said that Lulzsec's leader Hector Xavier Monsegur had pleaded guilty in August to 12 criminal charges.

The BBC reports that Mr Monsegur subsequently co-operated with the FBI and it was believed this action helped lead to the other accusations.