Wikileaks made leaking secrets 'sexy', experts say

LONDON: Whistle blowing website Wikileaks has made exposing secrets "sexy" according to a panel of security experts.

There is now a perception that leaking data is inherently good, a security conference in San Francisco was told.

That change in attitude is creating copycat groups that steal confidential data rather than being sent it.

The panel cited the example of Anonymous, which recently released thousands of hacked e-mails from security firm HBGary.

"It's a new age," said Kevin Poulsen, senior editor at Wired.com.

He told delgates at the RSA Conference: "[Julian] Assange's key contribution is the WikiLeaks brand and the idea that leaking is a good thing... that informtion wants to be free.

"It has to do with who controls the internet."

His view was supported by Roger Cressey, a counter terrorism analyst for a television channel and former National Security Council official.

"Whether it is hacking from the inside or outside, in this world [Wikileaks] is making leaking sexy," said Mr Cressey. (Online)