UK on alert for mass cyber attack following Julian Assange court appearance

[AP] Britain’s government has been put on alert for a mass cyber attack on its websites following the court appearance of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.Ministries have been told by Britain’s national security adviser they could be targeted by online “hacktivists”, following attacks on companies including MasterCard Inc., Visa Inc. and PayPal Inc., which cut ties to the WikiLeaks site.
www.theaustralian.com.au/in-depth/wikileaks/uk-on-alert-for-mass-cyber-attack-following-julian-assange-court-appearance/story-fn775xjq-1225970733541Also see:‘Prepare for all-out cyber war’
Whitehall is preparing for a crippling attack on government websites as evidence mounts that the backlash against the arrest of the WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is rapidly growing into a mass movement that aims to cause widespread disruption on the internet.Extra security measures have been added to a host of government web services, in particular those used to claim benefits or provide tax information, after Sir Peter Ricketts, the national security adviser, warned permanent secretaries across all departments that “hacktivists” who last week targeted the sites of companies such as MasterCard and PayPal could switch their focus to Britain.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/online/prepare-for-allout-cyber-war-2159567.htmlUK Government websites may be next pro-Wikileaks focus
The UK’s national security adviser Sir Peter Ricketts has warned that government websites could become the next target for pro-Wikileaks hackers.He told civil servants that websites used to file tax returns or claim benefits could be the most vulnerable.So far attacks from the Anonymous group of hacktivists have concentrated on firms perceived to be anti-Wikileaks.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-11990288