Six arrested teenagers from around the UK have been released on bail after suspicions of using Lizard Squad's cyber-attack tool to target websites and services. The six suspects are accused of initiating cyber-attacks at a national newspaper, a school, gaming companies and several online retailers.
UK police held the teens, ranging between the ages of 15 and 18, during an operation that targeted alleged users of Lizard Stresser, a distributed denial of service (DDoS) attack tool.
Lizard Squad used the Lizard Stresser tool during cyber-attacks on Microsoft's Xbox Live and Sony's PlayStation Network online gaming services last December.
The Lizard Stresser tool is envisioned as a “DDoS for hire” facility, which hackers can pay and aim it at targets of their choosing. The National Crime Agency (NCA) said the six teens are suspected of maliciously using the tool, paying for it using Bitcoin to remain anonymous.
Tony Adams, senior operations manager at the NCA's national cyber-crime unit, said: “Tools like Lizard Stresser can cripple businesses financially and deprive people of access to important information and public services. One of our key priorities is to engage with those on the fringes of cyber-criminality, to help them understand the consequences of cyber-crime and how they can channel their abilities into productive and lucrative legitimate careers.”
None of the six arrested males are accused of being members of Lizard Squad.
