They’ve hacked the CIA, the Sun newspaper, the Church of Scientology and a host of other large corporations, sparking a global police crackdown. But who and what are Anonymous? A radical new form of activism – or just bored teenagers? Carole Cadwalladr spoke with some of the ‘hacktivists’ and the experts who tracked them down

Six months after two Irish students were named as being allegedly involved in some of the world’s most infamous hacking incidents, neither has faced any prosecution — even though their former associates have faced stiff penalties.

Irish cybercrime law is inadequate and outdated and this may favour two young Irish students alleged to be at the centre of a global hacking ring if the US seeks to extradite them, a law expert has said.

As six suspected members of ‘hacktivist’ groups are named and face charges, the spotlight again shines on the shady world of internet hacking, writes Conall Ó Fátharta

A suspected hacker wanted by the FBI and arrested over cyber plots by online anarchists Anonymous and LulzSec has been released without charge.

The FBI has accused two Irish students of being among the ringleaders in one of the world’s most disruptive internet hacking organisations.

A Galway student accused by the FBI of being a founding member of an international hacking splinter group has said he is “frightened” by the prospect of the unfolding investigation.

The FBI has accused a county councillor’s son of tapping into a conference call the agency had with the garda fraud squad as it investigated an international hacking ring.