Anonymous hackers could face 10 years in prison

Hackers involved in launching distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks on parliamentary websites in February could face maximum penalties of 10 years imprisonment, the Federal Police has warned.

So far, two hackers have been linked to the two-day long attacks, which were orchestrated by the online 'Anonymous' community to protest the Labor Government's mandatory ISP filtering proposal.

A Federal Police spokesman would not disclose its methods, saying only that its High Tech Crime Investigations unit "proactively investigates individuals or groups seeking to commit serious computer intrusion offences or denial of service attacks".

The unit worked "very closely" with Australian and international law enforcement counterparts, she told iTnews.

"Potential offenders should consider the consequences if they are criminally prosecuted for taking part in, or inciting, electronic attacks," she said.

"As legislated, DDoS attacks attack a maximum penalty of 10 years' imprisonment."

Victorian student Steve Slayo last week pled guilty to four charges in relation to the attacks, which took place on February 10 and 11.

He was to be sentenced this month by Magistrate Donna Bakos of the Melbourne Magistrates Court, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.

In October, 22-year-old Matthew Gordon George was fined $550 in the Newcastle Local Court for his involvement in the attacks.

Although Labor's filtering proposal was criticised by the Greens, the Australian Sex Party, Electronic Frontiers Australia and certain ISPs, there was little mainstream support for Anonymous' methods.

EFA stated in February that the DDoS attacks "[damaged] the cause by playing to stereotypes of filter opponents as juveniles motivated by a desire to keep the internet safe for porn".