In brief: Hacker group LulzSec says it’s disbanding
NEW YORK – A publicity- seeking hacker group that has left a trail of sabotaged websites over the past two months, including attacks on law enforcement and releases of private data, said Saturday it is dissolving itself.
Lulz Security made its announcement through its Twitter account. It gave no reason for the disbandment, but it could be a sign of nerves in the face of law enforcement investigations.
Rival hackers have also joined in the hunt, releasing information they say could point to the identities of the six-member group.
LulzSec claimed hacks on major entertainment companies, FBI partner organizations, the CIA, the U.S. Senate and a pornography website.
Kevin Mitnick, a security consultant and former hacker, said the group had probably concluded that the more they kept up their activities, the greater the chance that one of them would make some mistake that would enable authorities to catch them.
They’ve inspired copycat groups around the globe, he noted, which means similar attacks are likely to continue even without LulzSec.
“They can sit back and watch the mayhem and not risk being captured,” Mitnick said.
Gunman injures five near gay pride events
SAN FRANCISCO – Police in San Francisco said five people were shot and injured Saturday evening and they were looking for a suspect.
Police spokesman Lt. Troy Dangerfield said a gunman fired shortly after 6 p.m. near Market Street and Sixth Street.
Two people were hit in the torso and were being treated for serious injuries at a hospital.
Three others were being treated for minor injuries.
The shooting was a few blocks from the city’s Gay Pride festivities at the Civic Center, which had just ended for the day.
Biden says GOP plan burdens middle class
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Vice President Joe Biden said Saturday the Obama administration wouldn’t let middle-class Americans “carry the whole burden” to break a deadlock over the national debt limit, warning that the Republican approach would only benefit the wealthy.
Addressing Ohio Democrats, Biden said there had been progress in talks with Republican lawmakers on a deficit-reduction agreement. But he insisted that his party wouldn’t agree to cuts that would undermine the elderly and middle-class workers. “We’re not going to let the middle class carry the whole burden. We will sacrifice. But they must be in on the deal,” Biden said.
Biden led efforts on a deficit-reduction plan, but Republicans pulled out of the discussions last week, prompting President Barack Obama to take control of the talks.
Democrats say a deficit- reduction agreement must include tax increases or cut tax breaks for big companies and wealthy individuals. Republicans want huge cuts in government spending and insist on no tax increases.