The FBI executed three search warrants to search the homes of three suspected members of online collective Anonymous early on Tuesday morning, as part of acrackdown on attackson Mastercard, Visa and PayPal,Fox News reports.
According to reports, 10 FBI agents swooped on three New York residences with search warrants for computers and computer-related accessories, physically removing a laptop from one member’s house in Baldwin early on Tuesday morning.
Agents also searched residences in Long Island and Brooklyn, according to sources.
The arrests come just hours after Anonymous-affiliated hacking collective LulzSeccompromised the websiteof British newspaper The Sun, directing visitors to a fake news story that reported Rupert Murdoch had died that evening.
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In response, an Anonymous-related Twitter account posted a message to say the arrests would not stop Anonymous from carrying out its anti-security campaigns:
It doesn’t matter how many people the ‘FBI’ arrest. Whether they are core members or not. #anonymous have started something unstoppable.
Members of Anonymous have also been arrested inItaly and Switzerlandand the UK,including the chargingof suspected LulzSec member Ryan Cleary, who was arrested by police in late June. Those that have been arrested are all aged between 15 and 28 years of age.
Story byMatt Brian
Matt is the former News Editor for The Next Web. You can follow him on Twitter, subscribe to his updates on Facebook and catch up with him(show all)Matt is the former News Editor for The Next Web. You can follow him onTwitter, subscribe to his updates onFacebookand catch up with him onGoogle+.
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