Political hacktivists turn to web attacks

Political activists are increasingly using net attacks as a means of protest, reveals a report. Since late 2009, environmental, political and ideological groups have become significant users of attacks that swamp sites with data. The groups are well resourced and use innovative techniques said Prolexic, a security firm that combats the attacks. Its findings come as cyber-activists block Australian government websites in protest at plans to filter content. Prolexic estimates about a total of nine million computers are used to mount the data flooding attacks.