Wisconsin man in court over Koch cyberattack

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A Wisconsin man accused of joining a cyberattack on Wichita-based Koch Industries has been prohibited from communicating with the computer hacker group Anonymous while out on bond.

Thirty-seven-year-old Eric J. Rosol of Black Creek, Wis., made a first appearance Wednesday in U.S. District Court on one count each of damaging a computer and conspiracy to damage a computer.

Rosol was allowed to remain free on a $25,000 unsecured bond while awaiting trial. He and his lawyer declined comment following the hearing.

The indictment alleges that Anonymous asked conspirators in February 2011 to launch a “Low Orbit Ion Cannon” that sent a high volume of repeated requests to a Koch website. Numerous conspirators complied, and the company’s website crashed.

Rosol is also accused of sending a code that damaged Koch’s computer.