Teenager linked to Xbox Live and PlayStation DDoS arrested in Liverpool

A Southport teenager has been arrested in a joint British and FBI-led operation following cyber attacks on Sony PlayStation and Xbox systems last year.

The South East Regional Organised Crime Unit (SEROCU) which led the arrest party said that a 18-year-old man was held today on suspicion of un-authorised access to computer material. He was also detained for alleged un-authorised access with intent to commit further offences and threats to kill.

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SEROCU is the nodal authority, alongwith the National Cyber Crime Unit (NCCU) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), working on the operation which is focused on the Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack which crippled the networks of Sony Playstation and Microsoft Xbox Live on the Christmas day throughout the world. SEROCU is also looking into ‘swatting’ which involves individuals providing false information online to law enforcement agencies in the US.

SEROCU said that it had seized many electronic and digital devices from the house of this unnamed teenager who was arrested in Boundary Street.

Deputy Chief Constable Peter Goodman, the national policing lead for cyber security at the Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo), said it was a “significant” arrest.

▼Advertisement He said: “This arrest demonstrates that we will pursue those who commit crime with the false perception they are protected within their own homes or hiding behind anonymous online personas. “As we continue to build capability and develop skills across wider policing, we still need industry, communities and individuals to protect themselves by implementing basic security measures whilst taking full advantage and enjoyment of the opportunities the world wide web provides.” ▼Advertisement Though there are no indications linking the arrested teenage to the Lizard Squad by the authorities, the Sony PlayStation Network and Microsoft Xbox Live was claimed to be brought down by them. So it is possible that this individual may be a member of the Lizard Squad. Lizard Squad’s official Twitter account is silent on the issue. Lizard Squad had threatened to take down both the gaming servers over Christmas holidays in the first week of December 2014 and had somehow succeeded in crippling both Sony and Microsoft gaming networks for over 3 days into the Christmas holidays. The infamous band of hackers had apparently used this DDoS attack as a marketing strategy for their DDoS reat-a-tool called Lizard Stresser. Source : SEROCU Statement.

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