While government and industry figures all agree that hacktivism -- no matter the colour or stripe -- poses a real security threat to organisations, opinion is divided on the motivations, and hence seriousness of groups such as Anonymous and LulzSec.

Given the secrecy of hacktivist groups such as Anonymous and LulzSec, few would venture claims to knowing the true motivations behind the current rash of attacks; however, two schools of thought have emerged on who these groups really are. The first argues that these groups are simply teenagers doing what teenagers do: Rebel. The other school argues that in line with the digital saturation of the current generation of teens and twenty-somethings these acts of hacking are simply the modern day equivalent of street protests.

Arguing the case for the 'teenagers-will-be-teenagers' school, outgoing Internet Industry Association (IIA) chief, Peter Coroneos, says the attacks of LulzSec in particular have the hallmarks of 'script kiddies' -- talented hackers in their early to mid teens -- looking to assert their skills and abilities.

"Looking at the statements LulzSec made in the few weeks [before it disbanded], I was actually reminded of the mid '90s. It was almost a return to the 'bragging rights' motivation," he says.