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The most interesting latest news on the topic: Anonymous |
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Anonymous hackers darkened several Indian government websites, retaliating against the country's censorship practices in its continued crusade for a free Internet.
The Supreme Court of India and All India Congress Committee websites suffered distributed denial of service attacks under "MT Operation India," leaving them inaccessible for 24 hours. Anonymous crippled the government pages to chastise Indian service providers for blocking file-sharing sites like Vimeo and The Pirate Bay. India's ISPs acted in anticipation of a pending government proposal, which aims to create a Committee for Internet Related Policies for overseeing the subcontinent's online activities. The committee, a 50-member UN-backed organization, would hold censorship powers over content deemed inappropriate or offensive by India's ruling party. But Anonymous, whose Pirate Party won parliamentary seats in Sweden and Germany after campaigning for Internet freedom, disagrees with this direction. "Namaste #India, your time has come to trash the current government and install a new one. Good luck. #SaveTPB #Anonymous #Censorship," the collective tweeted. Anonymous has a history of denouncing governments that wish to control the Internet, while India has a record of censoring websites. The two interests are now clashing for the second, but likely not the last, time. Anonymous' first publicized tangle with India occurred in February and concerned the 1984 Bhopal gas leak, which left thousands dead and maimed. The global intelligence firm Stratfor, according to Anonymous, paid corrupt Indian officials to silence victims after the disaster. Before turning its sights to Bhopal, Anonymous already enjoyed widespread notoriety for challenging worldwide governments on censorship issues. The collective hit the FBI for nabbing Wikileaks suspects, struck China over its strict censorship policies, even targeting Malaysia and Spain for their attempts to police the Internet. Anonymous also involved itself in the Arab Spring, fighting against Gaddafi in Egypt and Assad in Syria. The leaderless hackers also criticized Iran over its plans to create a government-run, internal Internet by August 2012. Until the Stratfor hack this February, however, Anonymous largely remained silent while India sought to censor emails and social media content. India successfully banned Nokia email servers in April 2011, citing security risks, and enlisted RIM's reluctant help in monitoring BlackBerry Messenger content last fall. The country is also suing Google and Facebook after the Internet giants' allegedly slow response to government requests for proactive censorship of "offensive" content. But after years of ignoring India's increasingly strict Internet controls, Anonymous is beginning to take interest. The collective may be doing so in part to burnish its reputation as a crusader for freedom after a slew of bad press smeared the hackers this winter. If India pursues its current direction about online restrictions, however, Anonymous will likely strike the subcontinent more often, denouncing Internet regulation and preserving its own reputation in the process. |
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Breaking up is hard to do, but some Anonymous hackers are splintering off into their own group, vowing to hack with integrity and fight censorship. |
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Hacker group Anonymous is setting its sights on the music industry, promising a major shakeup in the works -- but will its efforts yield real changes? |
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Anonymous released a potentially unsafe OS, saddling the collective with trust issues as it moves to expand beyond hacking. Anonymous OS Live, available for free on SourceForge, can supposedly check the "security of Web pages" with password cracking tools and simulated denial of service attacks. But AnonOps, the collective's official Twitter account, warns the Linux-based OS "is fake" and "wrapped in Trojans" meant to spy on users' computers. The OS creators deny this statement, insisting, "If any user believe that Anonymous-OS 'is wrapped in trojans' or 'backdoored OS by any Law enforcement Company or Hacker,' please don't download it! But don't mislead the world that Linux is dangerous and has trojans!" The Anonymous OS Live was downloaded about 21,000 times in four days, with nearly 40 users recommending it while half that number saying it's bad news. The conflict surrounding the OS suggests it is the unsanctioned work of legitimate Anons or perhaps of hackers out to hurt the collective with more bad publicity. More bad press is the last thing Anonymous needs, since news of the dubious OS follows reports of internal betrayals and rogue hackers that continue to plague the collective. Most notably, LulzSec leader Sabu, who had close ties to Anonymous, recently helped the FBI arrest five Anons in exchange for a reduced sentence after his capture. And the "Jester," a hacker bent on outing the hacktivists, says he may also aid the FBI by giving them top Anons' personal information. James Jeffrey also darkened the collective's reputation as online freedom fighters when he broke into the medical records of 10,000 British women connected with the country's biggest abortion provider. These conflicting actions are challenging Anonymous' movement to expand its influence outside of hacking operations and continue to cultivate such a negative media image of the group. "Anonymous 9000" addressed this conundrum at the South by Southwest film festival, publicly reiterating the collective's mission to defend freedom of speech and corporate transparency. 9000's speech at the prominent festival reflects the group's increased preoccupation with influencing popular opinion, which is critical since Anons need support for ventures like protests, a social media network and new political parties. Anonymous managed to draw crowds for last summer's street protests against San Francisco's public transportation network, as well as garnering support for the Occupy movement. The collective has also mentioned creating its own social network as well as forming a U.S. version of its European political parties. But these goals may be threatened if the organization's internal strife and dissent confuses the average person and begins to distrust Anonymous and its buggy OS-building members. In order to stay positive in public opinion, Anonymous will likely distance itself more aggressively from those who may discredit the collective in order to further its goals. |
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Hackers showed up at SXSW's Film Festival to support a documentary about Anonymous, reiterating their mission following a crackdown on their collective. Two hackers, wearing Guy Fawkes masks to protect their identities, insisted their cause is strong despite recent arrests, inside tipsters and rogue members' counterproductive activities. Anonymous member "9000" told an SXSW panel it was initially chilling when police nabbed LulzSec leader Hector Xavier Monsegur, known as "Sabu." But Sabu's arrest and subsequent aid in the FBI capture of five Anons only encouraged hacktivists to further campaign for free speech and transparent enterprise, according to the hacker. "A lot of people we hadn't seen for months, or years, started showing up. An attack happened that night," he recounted. "It just angered them, not frightened them." The collective demonstrated resilience following FBI and Interpol arrests by attacking high-profile targets like the Vatican and a neo-Nazi group. Besides praising the hacktvists' perseverance, 9000 explained that the group's recent bad press in no way reflects most members' sentiments. "That's the double-edged sword of Anonymous," said 9000. "Anyone can claim the name of Anonymous and do whatever they want. If anyone wants to make Anonymous look bad... it's easy to do." 9000 may have been referring to hackers like "The Jester" and James Jeffrey, both of whom have lately cast the collective in a poor light. Jeffrey, a self-proclaimed Anon, hacked into 10,000 women's health records at Britain's biggest abortion provider. The Jester claims to possess the personal information of multiple Anons and says he will use it to aid law enforcement in capturing the hackers. The exploits of a few continue to dampen Anonymous' public image, but an SXSW film called "We Are Legion: The Story of the Hacktivists" may help reverse this trend and shed light on the mysterious group. "I think Anonymous has garnered a lot of attention, some of it negative but a lot of it quite positive," ?said Gabriella Coleman, one of the film's commentators. "The support has been wild and extensive, which we can see registered with the Guy Fawkes iconography spreading everywhere during OWS or earlier with the Paypal boycott day on Twitter," she continued. Coleman's sentiments infuse the film, which may undo some of the damage visited on Anonymous by federal authorities and internal betrayals. As a collective, Anonymous reflects differing viewpoints from both its destructive and creative members, as individuals continue to leave an imprint on the group. Recent incidents and even its own members suggest the collective is more complex than simply "good" or "bad," and its impact and actions will continue to reflect its varied membership and nature. |
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Anonymous hackers struck the Vatican again, wreaking havoc despite ongoing arrests, defectors and rogue members that risk impairing future operations. Anons' latest attack on the Vatican temporarily darkened its website, during which time the group "took the liberty to implement a small incursion into [the Vatican Radio] systems." A spokesman for the Radio acknowledged the breach but added, "Thirty percent of the information on the server was so outdated it was of no use." Anonymous targeted the Radio since it allegedly uses transmitters that the collective believes operate "largely outside the bounds of the law." The attack on the Holy City displays the collective's resolve to fight for transparent business practices and free speech, even as internal problems threaten to obscure its mission. For instance, last week's operation against the Vatican, which sought to protest Catholic doctrine and child molestation, occurred one day after LulzSec member Sabu's arrest. Hector Xavier Monsegur, known by the handle "Sabu," reportedly exposed other LulzSec members in exchange for a reduced sentence. LulzSec and Anonymous have had strong ties since joining forces last summer, implying Anons, too, may face arrest resulting from Sabu's confession. After Sabu's betrayal, Anonymous tweeted, "Hacks will continue and so will the anger of the people. Arresting Sabu is not a win for the FBI it was a favour." But the collective may face bigger problems now that a rogue hacker named "The Jester" says he possesses incriminating texts, emails and personal information belonging to Anonymous leaders. The Jester has long accused Anons of stealing credit card numbers and passwords, and suggested he may hand over this information to the FBI if he hasn't already. Meanwhile, the arrest of Anonymous member James Jeffery may hurt the collective's public image. Jeffery landed in jail for hacking Britain's biggest abortion provider and nabbing the online records of 10,000 women. He is a "zealot with an anti-abortion campaign," according to Judge Daphne Wickham, who refused his request for bail. Anonymous is feeling the heat thanks to Jeffery, the Jester and Sabu as well as Interpol and the FBI, which nabbed 30 hackers in sting operations so far this year. Internal and external troubles have not yet dampened Anons' resolve, as the Vatican hack suggests, but the collective will need strong armor if it hopes to withstand future blows. |
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Police arrested 25 suspected Anonymous members in South America and Europe, as international law enforcement continues its cat-and-mouse game with the hacking collective. Interpol collaborated with local police in Argentina, Chile, Colombia and Spain for Operation Unmask, which nabbed hackers suspected of attacking various military and political establishments. Columbia's defense ministry and presidential websites, as well as Chile's electricity network and national library were among alleged cyber targets. In addition, Spanish police may have captured the alleged head of Anonymous' operations in Spain and Latin America, known by the aliases "Thunder" and "Pacotron." "This operation shows that crime in the virtual world does have real consequences for those involved, and that the Internet cannot be seen as a safe haven for criminal activity," stated Bernd Rossbach, Interpol's acting director of police services. Despite Rossbach's warning, Anonymous members redoubled their activities after the arrests, even taking down the Interpol website yesterday in retaliation. The back-and-forth between Anonymous and international police shows no signs of stopping as each party continues to defend its position. Law enforcement insists Anons pose a serious threat to cyber and critical infrastructure security, as the U.S. National Security Agency chief Gen. Keith Alexander warned last week. Alexander is not alone in his fear of Anonymous, shared by James Lewis, a cyber-security specialist at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. "It's a real threat," Lewis stated. "You want to occupy Wall Street? How about turn Wall Street off? Even for a day." The NSA and FBI continue to monitor Anons, several of whom now face charges after being arrested last summer in a massive operation to nab hackers associated with Wikileaks. Anonymous, conversely, insists it exists only to support free speech and expose corruption, thereby justifying hacks against "any organization that fancies itself above the law and is willing to put ethics aside in order to make money." The collective's recent targets include Mexico's Zetas drug cartel and the Syrian defense ministry as well as the CIA and FBI, suggesting even the most powerful organizations in the world are not above Anonymous' scrutiny. Anons' reputation for hacktivism does not sit well with international police, however, who will likely pursue future arrests while the collective continues its activities in the face of such threats. |
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Anonymous hackers insist they aim to uncover corruption and advocate for free speech, reasserting their mission amid a rash of bad press. An unnamed member of Anonymous told CNET the collective has and will always target "any organization that fancies itself above the law and is willing to put ethics aside in order to make money." To this end, Anons last week hacked global intelligence firm Stratfor, alleging the company paid money to silence victims of the deadly 1984 gas leak in Bhopal, India. "Financial institution wants a group of 'activists' to go away, asks a corrupted political system for help, and thus is referred to companies like HBGary and Stratfor to make the "problem" disappear," said CNET's anonymous source about the company's business. Anonymous has also hacked several government contractors, including ManTech, Booz Allen Hamilton and IRC Federal, to expose a "darker world involving the corrupt financial, political, and military systems." The collective's members still risk prison for their hacking exploits, with some already jailed in Turkey, Spain and the UK for targeting government agencies. The FBI conducted several raids against Anons last year and continues to hunt the hackers who have broken into its systems more than once. These arrests have earned Anonymous worldwide notoriety, as have the collective's often positive press attention for supporting WikiLeaks, the Arab Spring and torrent-sharing site The Pirate Bay. Recently, the group even targeted the notorious Mexican drug cartel Zetas, highlighting the group's preoccupation with upholding human rights. But as CNET's source admitted, "Anytime you get a large number of people together for any reason, whether it be a political rally, sporting event, or even a peaceful protest, it's going to attract a few who act outside of the reason people have assembled." The same is true of Anonymous, a leaderless collective that recently saw several self-proclaimed members ask for bribe money, a practice the group hasn't previously employed, from security company and hacking victim Symantec. A supposed Anonymous hacker called YamaTough allegedly reached out to the stricken security firm, demanding money in exchange for not publishing stolen code. The FBI then stepped in, posing as a Symantec employee to offer a $50,000 bribe, but YamaTough caught on and ultimately posted the sensitive code on The Pirate Bay website. YamaTough's scheme tarnished Anonyous' public image, as did the actions of "some random joe" who exposed the personal information of 102 San Francisco BART employees during the city's public transit protests last August. Anonymous disavowed the release of BART employee information, but the incident likely soured public opinion about the collective's overall mission. If Anonymous desires to stay admirable in the public eye, it may need more emissaries like CNET's source to reiterate the collective's original goals. |
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Hacking collective Anonymous may attack U.S. power grids, warns the National Security Agency, suggesting federal agents are taking extra precautions as cyber-warfare threatens critical infrastructures. NSA chief Gen. Keith Alexander recommends the U.S. government keep close tabs on Anonymous as the group grows bolder in its attacks. Anonymous, known for supporting freedom of speech and exposing security errors, has enjoyed broad underground support for actions like defending WikiLeaks and attacking Mexican drug cartels. But support has waned, after alleged Anons demanded bribes from Symantec last week. The group also threatened to shut down the Internet on March 31 for Operation Global Blackout, an audacious, if not impossible, plan. The leaderless collective have worried the NSA, among other security experts, who warn its members are unpredictable and may harm U.S. infrastructure if given the chance. "It's a real threat," said James Lewis, a cyber-security specialist at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. "You want to occupy Wall Street? How about turn Wall Street off? Even for a day." Lewis' comments suggest the financial sector is not impervious to attacks from Anonymous, and neither is the electrical grid, according to researchers at MIT. The current system leaves six million miles of electrical lines unprotected, say the institution's scientists, who advocate for increased governmental surveillance against potential hacking threats. Responding to this warning, the Cybersecurity Act of 2012 recommends strengthening cybersecurity at private water and electrical plants avoid a potential disaster. "The prospect of mass casualty is what has propelled us to make cybersecurity a top priority for this year, to make it an issue that transcends political parties or ideology," said Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D., W. Va.), co-author of the bill. The seriousness of an electrical shutdown may prompt federal officials to more aggressively prevent Anons and other hackers from breaching such a critical system. The FBI last year arrested Anons for WikiLeaks-related activities nearly one year after their original exploits. But the nation's law enforcement organizations will likely target hacktivists faster if they elevate their tactics and turn out the lights across the U.S. |
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Hacking group Anonymous demanded payment for stolen Symantec source code, an atypical move undermining the collective's ideological approach to hacking. Hackers, ostensibly connected with either hacktivist group Anonymous or AntiSec, breached and then blackmailed the security firm, according to Symantec spokesman Cris Paden. "Anonymous actually reached out to us, first, saying that if we provided them with money, they would not post any more source code. At that point, given that it was a clear-cut case of extortion, we contacted law enforcement and turned the investigation over to them," he said. The FBI stepped in and posed as Symantec employee "Sam Thomas," offering the hackers $50,000 to keep quiet about the breach. But hacker YamaTough eventually suspected law enforcement involvement, telling Thomas to "say hi to the FBI." Shortly afterwards, YamaTough and his co-conspirators released Symantec's code on The Pirate Bay website when the FBI stalled instead of sending them money as promised. The hackers may have hurt themselves in the process, however, as the collectives' turn to financial gain for their exploits stands to tarnish Anonymous and AntiSec's reputations as ideologically motivated collectives. Anonymous typically involves itself in political exposes, like striking at Mexico's Zetas drug cartel and targeting Turkish and Spanish governments for interfering with online freedom of speech. Anonymous also regularly exposes security flaws in various companies like Sony and advocates against the entertainment industry's push for copyright law enforcement. AntiSec is well-known for its many stunts against the U.S. government, FBI and CIA, as well as for hacking Rupert Murdoch's Sun Newspaper and Fox News. The collective joined forces with Anonymous last spring and since then has adopted Anonymous' penchant for ideological hacking. But neither Anonymous nor AntiSec has a hierarchical organization, allowing anyone to claim membership and carry out hacks on their behalf. If more people like YamaTough demand bribes rather than hacking to make a political statement, they will likely discourage outsiders from sympathizing with any of Anonymous' efforts and likely dilute any political will the group acquired through its many campaigns. Furthermore, law enforcement is likely to become more aggressive in pursuing hackers who want money, exposing them and the rest of Anonymous and AntiSec to increased surveillance. Over time, monetarily motivated hackers like YamaTough may also be slowly paving their way to prison and eroding the ideological footing of the collective they claim to represent. |
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