The cyber assaults were mounted using software readily available over the internet which allows someone to send huge amounts of information to a computer system, overloading it. For hackers, this sort of attack, called a Denial of Service, requires no special programming knowledge. But some security experts have warned that the nature of the raids suggests a well-organised and sophisticated group at work. An e-mail from Yahoo engineers said the vandals knew what servers to target to cause the maximum disruption. In the hacking underground, technically-skilled but often alienated individuals earn respect of their peers by showing flashes of brilliance in exposing the vulnerability of a computer system.
Most hackers are anonymous, known only by their internet monikers.
Perhaps the most famous is Kevin Mitnick. A legend in hacker circles, he once headed the FBI's most wanted list. Some in the hacking community have also rounded on the media over their reporting of the attacks, saying it is unfair to point the finger at hackers. So far, the corporate media has done a very bad job covering this story, blaming hackers and in the next sentence admitting they have no idea who's behind it. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.