Lulz Security Hackers Target Senate.gov and Bethesda Software Because They Can

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The latest hacker group on the scene to prove how unsafe information is on the web call themselves Lulz Security, "the world's leaders in high-quality entertainment at your expense." In response to unfavorable coverage of WikiLeaks, the mischief-makers hacked a PBS website late last month and used their power to announce that Tupac Shakur is alive and well in New Zealand. Last night, they aimed higher, releasing information about the official website of the U.S. Senate and the gaming company Bethesda Software, all in a day's work. "This is a small, just-for-kicks release of some internal data from Senate.gov," said the LulzSec announcement. "Is this an act of war, gentlemen?"

Lulz Sec has made their name with a "month-long cyber rampage," in the words of the Wall Street Journal, including the aforementioned PBS breach, and a larger infiltration of Sony and the FBI affiliate InfraGard.

This time, they claim to have accessed all of Bethesda's network of online gaming, including user names and password, though the company maintains that credit card data is safe. "We actually like this company," LulzSec bragged. "So we'll give them one less thing to worry about."

As for the Senate, though the group admitted themselves it was "small, just-for-kicks," a representative of the government website further played down the invasion. "The intruder did not gain access into the Senate computer network," a spokesperson said. "Although this intrusion is inconvenient, it does not compromise the security of the Senate's network, its members or staff."

When will these people learn not to egg them on?

[jcoscarelli@villagevoice.com / @joecoscarelli]