Hackers break US Senate's computer network

A group of computer hackers calling themselves Lulz Security said they broke into the US Senate's computer network. The announcement about hacking appeared on Monday, June 13 on the site of the group.

Lulz Security, who have hacked into Sony's website and the Public Broadcasting System, posted online a list of files that appear not to be sensitive but indicate the hackers had been into the Senate's computer network.

"We don't like the US government very much," Lulz Security said at the top of their release. "This is a small, just-for-kicks release of some internal data from Senate.gov - is this an act of war, gentlemen? Problem?" The comment refers to reports that the U.S. military had decided that it could respond to cyber attacks from foreign countries with traditional military force, reports the International Business Times.

The US Senate's Sergeant at Arms' Office confirmed the Senate website had been hacked and ordered a security review, the Telegraph reports.

Lulz, which is Internet slang for 'laugh out loud,' has claimed hacks into websites owned by Sony Corp. It has also claimed responsibility for defacing the U.S. Public Broadcasting Service network websites, and for posting on Monday data from PBS servers to protest a "Front Line" documentary about WikiLeaks, the International Business Times mentions.