"The last couple of years we have been concerned about organised crime and cyber terrorism and all that stuff. But this has almost been a flashback to the era of 'we're doing it because we can'."

Coroneos argues that as targets have included government agencies as well and corporations, it is hard to see a common thread -- other than these being part of "the establishment" -- and it is this which people find disconcerting.

"Because there is no predictability -- perhaps that's a part of their point -- there is the idea that they can hit anyone at any time for whatever reason," he says. "That seems to be what they are actually trying to show: that they are not restricted to one ideology or cause."

IBRS advisor and security expert, James Turner, is more forthright, arguing LulzSec's work especially, amounts to "stupid, immature vandalism".

"It's dangerous and destructive. What were they protesting? They attacked Sony. What legitimate concerns could they have against Sony?" he says. "It is a really interesting ethical scenario: is it moral to make a protest about something you are unhappy about and break the law at the same time? There will be a time and a place for that but I would assert that this wasn't it.