Court Told Wikileaks Backlash Cost PayPal £3.5 Million

[Karloff]

Court Told Wikileaks Backlash Cost PayPal £3.5 Million

Three of accused Anonymous hacker Christopher Weatherhead's alleged co-conspirators have already plead guilty.

Christopher Weatherhead, a student at Northampton University and alleged "leader" of the Anonymous attack on PayPal, is standing trial for his role in the alleged conspiracy. According to the prosecution, Weatherhead's attack cost PayPal £3.5 million ($5.5 million). His three co-defendants have already pled guilty to the charge of conspiracy to impair the operation of computers, and will be sentenced later.

The attacks, Operation Payback, were in response to PayPal's refusal to process payments for Julian Assange's Wikileaks website. Operation Payback took place between August 2010 and January 2011, and consisted of distributed denial of service assaults that eventually directed users to a page displaying the message "You've tried to bite the Anonymous hand. You angered the hive and now you are being stung."

"Christopher Weatherhead, the defendant, is a cyber-attacker," said prosecutor Sandip Patel, "and ... he and others like him waged a sophisticated and orchestrated campaign of online attacks that paralysed a series of targeted computer systems belonging to companies, to which they took issue with for whatever reason, that caused unprecedented harm."

The harm includes three weeks of clean-up by 100 PayPal staff after the attacks, and substantial investment in hardware and software to prevent further attacks, all of which adds up to the £3.5 million in damage Weatherhead is accused of causing.

Source: Guardian [http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2012/nov/22/anonymous-cyber-attacks-paypal-court]


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[lacktheknack]

I wonder how they ever though this would turn out well.

I'm glad to see that vandalistic hacking is getting the hammer dropped on people.

 

[UberNoodle]

How did Paypal's caving into US government pressure financially affect Wikileaks?

 

[flarty]

I wonder how they ever though this would turn out well.

I'm glad to see that vandalistic hacking is getting the hammer dropped on people.

Fair play to them for having the gonads to stand up to corporate behemoth, that decided to use its power to oppose an organization that was attempting to serve the public's interest. You may not agree with the means in which they done it, but at least they wasn't being apathetic like a lot of us are.

How did Paypal's caving into US government pressure financially affect Wikileaks?

It didn't, its saying the attack was the result of paypal not processing donations for wikileaks. The attack cost paypal 3.5 million.

 

[CCountZero]

Surely the investment into proper online security can't be put on Mr. Weatherhead, though? Cleaning up after whatever mess he allegedly left, cost a sum of money, which it makes sense they'd be entitled to demand paid to them, but the subsequent improvements I don't see how could ever be blamed on Weatherhead.

 

[Baresark]

How did Paypal's caving into US government pressure financially affect Wikileaks?

It didn't, its saying the attack was the result of paypal not processing donations for wikileaks. The attack cost paypal 3.5 million.

LoL, that is a strange statement. It certainly did affect wikileaks because the US government used their power to inhibit people donating to the defense of Julian Assange. I would say that them caving to the US Government like they did very badly affected both Wikileaks and Julian Assange. But some of us are more justice minded than others I guess.

OT: It's amazing what anonymity does to peoples courage. They just weren't anonymous enough. The idiotic thing is when someone takes credit for this kind of thing. If they actually did it anonymously, we most likely wouldn't be seeing this article.

 

[LordMonty]

They fail at the core challenge, to remain Anonymous, ergo they fail to remain the faceless legend that Anonymous seeks to be and underminds the whole point of it. Hopefully people can hurt the bad guys and not innocent people just using a popular service, ofc who the bad guy is never that clear cut so well... fight your fights just think about it a bit more before you do it and don't be a twat.

 

[Gearhead mk2]

Um... Didn't PayPal say in an earlier news story that the hack did bassically no harm?

 

[major_chaos]

attempting to serve the public's interest.

Oh yes my interests have been served like crazy, before some self proclaimed "freedom fighter" was leaking classified and potentially national security threatening documents that have no effect on my day to day life I used to piss myself in bed at night from the uncertainty but now I know there is a man who will "serve my interests" by compromising US security and throwing a temper tantrum when there is consequences. thanks Julian Assange. /endrant

OT: Good, Annon has done good things every once in a great while, but this was not one of them. And unlike some cyber-crime cases the punishment fits the crime here.

Edited to be slightly less rage filled

 

[flarty]

LoL, that is a strange statement. It certainly did affect wikileaks because the US government used their power to inhibit people donating to the defense of Julian Assange. I would say that them caving to the US Government like they did very badly affected both Wikileaks and Julian Assange. But some of us are more justice minded than others I guess.

I was under the impression he thought the hack cost wikileaks £3.5 million, as thats what the article is addressing. Also, where does justice some into clarifying something?

attempting to serve the public's interest.

Oh yes my interests have been served like crazy, before some self proclaimed "freedom fighter" was leaking classified and potentially national security threatening documents that have no effect on my day to day life I used to piss myself in bed at night from the uncertainty but now I know there is a man who will "serve my interests" by compromising US security and throwing a temper tantrum when there is consequences. thanks Julian Assange, you heroic rapist asshole. /endrant

OT: Good, Annon has done good things every once in a great while, but this was not one of them. And unlike some cyber-crime cases the punishment fits the crime here.

Take it up with wikileaks instead of me if that's how you feel. Personally i think they did a good job in exposing the American army for the terrorists they are.

 

[VanTesla]

attempting to serve the public's interest.

Oh yes my interests have been served like crazy, before some self proclaimed "freedom fighter" was leaking classified and potentially national security threatening documents that have no effect on my day to day life I used to piss myself in bed at night from the uncertainty but now I know there is a man who will "serve my interests" by compromising US security and throwing a temper tantrum when there is consequences. thanks Julian Assange, you heroic rapist asshole. /endrant

OT: Good, Annon has done good things every once in a great while, but this was not one of them. And unlike some cyber-crime cases the punishment fits the crime here.

I agree completely with your statements and go further to say what both Assange and people that associate with Annon do more harm than any kind of good... Things in the documents can give enemy factions of USA and Allie forces the ability to cause more harm to our soldiers or people that cooperate with them in said Country and hinder operations that would maybe speed up ending conflicts. Also that it causes more violent hate that is not needed right now... People in Annon that do certain things like hack gov't or Corporations just give them the excuse to pass laws to further restrict internet rights for the sake of security... I believe in free speech, but there is a line where free speech and actions can do tremendous harm to people and must be stopped.

 

[VanTesla]

LoL, that is a strange statement. It certainly did affect wikileaks because the US government used their power to inhibit people donating to the defense of Julian Assange. I would say that them caving to the US Government like they did very badly affected both Wikileaks and Julian Assange. But some of us are more justice minded than others I guess.

I was under the impression he thought the hack cost wikileaks £3.5 million, as thats what the article is addressing. Also, where does justice some into clarifying something?

attempting to serve the public's interest.

Oh yes my interests have been served like crazy, before some self proclaimed "freedom fighter" was leaking classified and potentially national security threatening documents that have no effect on my day to day life I used to piss myself in bed at night from the uncertainty but now I know there is a man who will "serve my interests" by compromising US security and throwing a temper tantrum when there is consequences. thanks Julian Assange, you heroic rapist asshole. /endrant

OT: Good, Annon has done good things every once in a great while, but this was not one of them. And unlike some cyber-crime cases the punishment fits the crime here.

Take it up with wikileaks instead of me if that's how you feel. Personally i think they did a good job in exposing the American army for the terrorists they are.

I am not exactly defending the actions that our military takes, but it's the Gov't that is the overall problem and not the military. I know many soldiers of high and lower ranks that don't agree with many things that are done, but they have no power in those decisions and if you speak out to much you will be in deep shit. Also America is not the only one with it's hands dirty... Every single Country has skeletons in the closet and do horrid things. There is no true peaceful Country and only Countries that may be better at hiding their dirty secrets...

 

[Moosejaw]

attempting to serve the public's interest.

Oh yes my interests have been served like crazy, before some self proclaimed "freedom fighter" was leaking classified and potentially national security threatening documents that have no effect on my day to day life I used to piss myself in bed at night from the uncertainty but now I know there is a man who will "serve my interests" by compromising US security and throwing a temper tantrum when there is consequences. thanks Julian Assange, you heroic rapist asshole. /endrant

OT: Good, Annon has done good things every once in a great while, but this was not one of them. And unlike some cyber-crime cases the punishment fits the crime here.

Is there nothing you'll deny the government the right to conceal so long as someone with an impressive enough title claims it's in the interest of 'national security'? And if there is, how are you even going to find out they're concealing it in the first place?

 

[chadachada123]

attempting to serve the public's interest.

Oh yes my interests have been served like crazy, before some self proclaimed "freedom fighter" was leaking classified and potentially national security threatening documents that have no effect on my day to day life I used to piss myself in bed at night from the uncertainty but now I know there is a man who will "serve my interests" by compromising US security and throwing a temper tantrum when there is consequences. thanks Julian Assange, you heroic rapist asshole. /endrant

OT: Good, Annon has done good things every once in a great while, but this was not one of them. And unlike some cyber-crime cases the punishment fits the crime here.

If you don't have a problem with our government covering up the slaughter of thousands of innocent people, then there are far bigger issues than Wikileaks or Anonymous could ever cause.

I think you'd have a change of heart if your family was killed by American troops and then lied about to the public.

 

[Baresark]

LoL, that is a strange statement. It certainly did affect wikileaks because the US government used their power to inhibit people donating to the defense of Julian Assange. I would say that them caving to the US Government like they did very badly affected both Wikileaks and Julian Assange. But some of us are more justice minded than others I guess.

I was under the impression he thought the hack cost wikileaks £3.5 million, as thats what the article is addressing. Also, where does justice some into clarifying something?

attempting to serve the public's interest.

Oh yes my interests have been served like crazy, before some self proclaimed "freedom fighter" was leaking classified and potentially national security threatening documents that have no effect on my day to day life I used to piss myself in bed at night from the uncertainty but now I know there is a man who will "serve my interests" by compromising US security and throwing a temper tantrum when there is consequences. thanks Julian Assange, you heroic rapist asshole. /endrant

OT: Good, Annon has done good things every once in a great while, but this was not one of them. And unlike some cyber-crime cases the punishment fits the crime here.

Take it up with wikileaks instead of me if that's how you feel. Personally i think they did a good job in exposing the American army for the terrorists they are.

I apologize, I didn't mean it to sound like it did. I re-read it and then intended to change it. At first I thought you were saying there was nothing done that affected Wikileaks and Julian Assange. I didn't realize you were explaining the article. You were quite right about the article, of course. I also agree that Wikileaks did a good job. I hate that whole national security excuse that people use. As an American, I was very grateful for Wikileaks doing what they did, and it just shows how out of control the US Government has gotten. Then you get jackholes like the guy you were responding too. I also love the attacking part at the end, calling him a "rapist asshole". I'm sure that guy actually isn't all that familiar with how the so called rape charge came about either. He is just cool with the government parroting national security and safety of the people, despite what the diplomatic messages he exposed were all about.

 

[Evil Smurf]

Don't be flaming friends. Assange is an idol of mine, be revealed the war crimes of governments and he plans to run for a seat in the Australian Senate. I'll vote for him.

 

[Rooster Cogburn]

Oh yes my interests have been served like crazy, before some self proclaimed "freedom fighter" was leaking classified and potentially national security threatening documents that have no effect on my day to day life I used to piss myself in bed at night from the uncertainty but now I know there is a man who will "serve my interests" by compromising US security

The New York Times leaks information at a higher level of classification than Wikileaks ever did. Does your condemnation of Mr. Assange extend to them as well? Do you believe the public would have been better served if they never found out about, say, President Bush's illegal wire-tapping program? The argument certainly has been made that exposing those crimes strengthened America's enemies by revealing state secrets and weakening the government's ability to act in furtherance of national security.

Besides, what your government does, it does in your name. Even if it doesn't affect your daily life (and I think that is likely untrue) you should care.

and throwing a temper tantrum when there is consequences.

There aren't supposed to be consequences. It's called freedom of speech. Using extra-legal means to punish Mr. Assange and Wikileaks as the U.S. government has arguably done through is influence on private companies is wrong.

thanks Julian Assange, you heroic rapist asshole. /endrant

Mr. Assange is wanted for questioning by Swedish authorities. He has not been convicted of the crime of rape. He has not even been charged with the crime of rape. It would be irresponsible for anyone to assume either his guilt or his innocence at this time. The matter should be investigated by the proper authorities, who are currently engaged in gumming up the works and being inexplicably and suspiciously uncooperative.

Plus, the man is a hero. Or rather, he is the public face of a heroic collection of individuals. The chilling effect his persecution has had on freedom of speech is frightening, and his treatment by mainstream media illuminating.

I agree completely with your statements and go further to say what both Assange and people that associate with Annon do more harm than any kind of good... Things in the documents can give enemy factions of USA and Allie forces the ability to cause more harm to our soldiers or people that cooperate with them in said Country and hinder operations that would maybe speed up ending conflicts. Also that it causes more violent hate that is not needed right now... People in Annon that do certain things like hack gov't or Corporations just give them the excuse to pass laws to further restrict internet rights for the sake of security... I believe in free speech, but there is a line where free speech and actions can do tremendous harm to people and must be stopped.

Stopped how? You are talking about both speech and hacking, so I'm not sure which you are saying "must be stopped".

 

[lacktheknack]

I wonder how they ever though this would turn out well.

I'm glad to see that vandalistic hacking is getting the hammer dropped on people.

It's ironic that Weatherhead doesn't seem to be much for brainstorming.

I think you just made me break my skull and my desk at the same time.

 

[Denamic]

While I don't approve of this kind of cyber vandalism, PayPal needs to suffer consequences for their business practices.

There's people who get their money locked away for virtually no other reason than a vague 'suspicious activity'. It happened to a friend of mine, just because he accessed his account from a different country. He was on fucking vacation! He didn't see any of his money for 8 months. 8 fucking months. They should not be allowed to pull shit like that and get away with it.