"LulzSec — a litter of script kiddies with kindergarten knowledge of the basest forms of technological harassment since 90s AOL proggies"
Yes, that's correct.
The PROBLEM is that that's correct. These script kiddies were hacking the biggest names on the internet and SUCCEEDING. DAILY.
It was an absolutely ridiculous situation and every bit of press was warranted.
LulzSec went away. The real hackers did not. They're still out there doing it, and the companies are still just as vulnerable. The only difference is that the real hackers are not telling you about it daily.
Many of the things I've read in criticism of lulzsec is that the writer always considers themselves better, somehow above the techniques employed below themselves. They're writing lulzsec off like some snooty bankrobber who prefers elaborate oceans eleven style heists so much that they find the mere idea of breaking into an unlocked bank at night distasteful. They seem to gloss over the fact that lulzsec got results. Enough doors were unlocked at night that they caused a good shitstorm.
If you want to use them as a springboard for discussion on responsible disclosure, fine. Were they immature? Of course. Want to analyze what the coverage means for the current state of journalism be it tech-specific or not, blog or real news outlet? Good, go do that. But what I am sick of seeing, is the "Oh yeah, well, I could do that if I wanted to, I just don't want to." attitude. Fuck you buddy. What did you do to stop those widespread vulnerabilities from being exploited? Oh, nothing? So you're just miffed that the culture and collective ego you bought into was shaken? You deserve it.
The story should be that what should be online bank vaults are actually protected like convenience stores, and who cares who's kicking over the apple cart?
