Hector Xavier Monsegur was the leader of LulzSec, a high-profile hacking group responsible for attacks on Sony, PBS, and government websites. After being identified through a single OPSEC mistake, he became an FBI informant and helped take down his fellow hackers.
The Fatal Mistake
Monsegur connected to an IRC channel without Tor just once. That single IP address led FBI agents directly to his apartment in New York. One moment of carelessness ended his anonymity.
Becoming an Informant
Facing decades in prison, Monsegur agreed to cooperate. For months, he continued leading LulzSec while secretly logging conversations for the FBI, ultimately leading to the arrests of key members.
The Lesson
Monsegur's case demonstrates that OPSEC requires 100% consistency. A single slip can unravel years of careful anonymity. It also shows that even trusted community members may be compromised.