A BBC article from Nov. 22 details the entry of pleas from four hackers who stand accused of attacking the websites of PayPal and MasterCard in 2010. The hacktivist attacks were purportedly in retaliation against the cutting of payment services to Wikileaks in December of that year. Three of the defendants entered guilty pleas while one denied the charge of conspiracy:
A student attacked the PayPal website as part of a concerted effort by the Anonymous “hacktivists” that cost the company £3.5m, a court has heard.
Christopher Weatherhead, 22, was studying at Northampton University when he allegedly took part in the campaign.
Mr Weatherhead, from Northampton, denies a charge of conspiracy.
He has pleaded not guilty to conspiring to impair the operation of computers between 1 August 2010 and 22 January 2011.MasterCard, Visa, Ministry of Sound, the British Recorded Music Industry and the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry were also hit.
The jury at Southwark Crown Court were told Ashley Rhodes, 27, from Camberwell, south London; Peter Gibson, 24, from Hartlepool; and an 18-year-old male who cannot be named for legal reasons have already pleaded guilty to the charge.
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