14 June 2011 - A group of computer hackers calling themselves Lulz Security accessed a Senate server that supports the chamber's public website but did not breach other files, a Capitol Hill law enforcement official said Monday. The hackers said the release was a "just for kicks" attempt to help the government "fix their issues."

"Although this intrusion is inconvenient, it does not compromise the security of the Senate's network, its members or staff," Senate Deputy Sergeant-at-Arms Martina Bradford said in a statement.

The Senate IT security staff became aware of the breach over the weekend. The intruder was able to tap into the server through a vulnerability in an area of Senate.gov that’s maintained by a Senate office, and gained access to the site’s file directory.

The Senate sergeant at arms staff immediately took steps to plug the security hole, Deputy Sergeant at Arms Martina Bradford said in a statement.

The server is on the public side of the Senate’s firewall and files stored there by Senate offices are intended to be publicly accessible.

The hackers group claimed that it had added a Senate file to its list of successful, high-profile intrusions at a time when governments and corporations are on high guard for cyber intrusions.
The group of computer hackers who pride themselves on attacking vulnerable networks for fun has claimed responsibility for the recent hacker attack on PBS’s servers and for attacks on Fox.com and Sony earlier this year.