Hackers Attack OFLC Website

[Logan Westbrook]

Hackers Attack OFLC Website

A disgruntled Australian has vented his frustration at the Office of Film and Literature Classification, by hacking their website.

The anonymous hacker left a message on the website which read:

"This site contains information about the boards that have the right to CONTROL YOUR FREEDOMZ. The Classification Board has the right to not just classify content (the name is an ELABORATE TRICK), but also the right to DECIDE WHAT IS AND ISNT APPROPRIATE and BAN CONTENT FROM THE PUBLIC."

The OFLC site was quickly taken down, presumably so that it could be cleaned up and is still currently unavailable. Exactly what had irritated the hacker so much isn't completely clear. It may be the lack of an R18+ rating for videogames, but equally, it could be in response to the Australian's controversial plans to filter the content on the country's internet.

Some have applauded the hacker's actions, but others have suggested that his move may be counter-productive, and may in fact strengthen the resolve of the Australian government to forge ahead with their plans.

Source: GamePolitics [http://www.gamepolitics.com/2009/03/27/hackers-deface-australian-rating-board039s-website]



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[Lord Krunk]

Man Nil, how do you find this stuff out before me?

 

[stompy]

Nice. Perhaps we Australian gamers should initiate some kind of Civil Rights Movement for our freedom of speech... tomorrow.

 

[seule]

Funny that the communications minister can't get anyone to side with him on the issue of filtering the internet, other than like... Michael Atkinson.

And whilst the senate balance stays the same, I can't see them getting the bill through, unless they go to Nick Xenophon and tell him they're going to give him everything he wants, and even then, Mr X is a noted freedom of speech advocate. I just pray that he holds his nerve and that next election, the balance doesnt change.

 

[Arcticflame]

Good on him.

Pity they will probably label him a cyber terrorist and use his example of "destructive behaviour" to ban the internet.

It's sad that it sounds half likely...

 

[TsunamiWombat]

I'm getting pissed off the govourment wants to filter the internet, sorry but We aren't going to become China, I'll start a fucking protest if I have to.

Your not allowed to protest, they'll throw crocidiles at you.

But fear not, for Steve Irwin will return to save you in Austrailia's darkest hour and pull the sword from the stone.

 

[Rigs83]

Wow Australia kind of sucks. I guess I'll immigrate to Canada after college instead.

 

[Dommyboy]

This Hacker wins several internets for his brilliant work.

 

[One Seven One]

i appluad him for what he's done

becuase that's funny

 

[Dommyboy]

Anybody know if the hacker has been discovered yet?

 

[Mr Inconsistent]

I dont think hacker is the aprpriated word for this man (Let's face it, how many feminine hackers do YOU know)... We should call him a freedom fighter!



'The best man to hire is a lazy man: he'll find the most efficient way to do the job when put to it.'

 

[Mask of 1000 Faces]

I'm suprised the site shut down. How hard is it to delete a message and resume normal operations? Maybe he went a little farther and they're just not telling us. *shrug*

Either way, they should have been expecting a little "internet greetings" from some of the folks they're driving up a wall, these days there's a hacker for every group.

*throws a "WIN" sticker twords Australian landmass*

 

[Beefcakes]

I'm getting pissed off the govourment wants to filter the internet, sorry but We aren't going to become China, I'll start a fucking protest if I have to.

Well, tomorrow (technically today, I should get some sleep) I'm giving an oral presentation about it, hopefully it will open up some eyes...

 

[Doug]

I'm getting pissed off the govourment wants to filter the internet, sorry but We aren't going to become China, I'll start a fucking protest if I have to.

Your not allowed to protest, they'll throw crocidiles at you.

But fear not, for Steve Irwin will return to save you in Austrailia's darkest hour and pull the sword from the stone.

Croc's? pfft. Who would fear a croc when you have THIS on your side

Spoiler: Anime video

Seriously, the Japanese are wierd!

 

[Abedeus]

I'm getting pissed off the govourment wants to filter the internet, sorry but We aren't going to become China, I'll start a fucking protest if I have to.

Your not allowed to protest, they'll throw crocidiles at you.

But fear not, for Steve Irwin will return to save you in Austrailia's darkest hour and pull the sword from the stone.

Croc's? pfft. Who would fear a croc when you have THIS on your side

Spoiler: Anime video

Seriously, the Japanese are wierd!

It seems you understood the video.

I only managed to grasp the "YEAAH!!". Everything else is foreign to me and weird. And confusing. Even moreso.

 

[Gitsnik]

I'm suprised the site shut down. How hard is it to delete a message and resume normal operations? Maybe he went a little farther and they're just not telling us. *shrug*

No backups.

Anyway, he's a cracker not a hacker, and he is doing nothing to further the cause.

"FREEDOMZ"? Thanks a lot douche bag.

God-damned amateur. Probably found some script kiddie SQL in a search form. I hope he gets caught and quartered for his bullshit prank, and stuffed in some pound-you-in-the-hello prison so he learns to grow the hell up when he wants to protest.

 

[Samah]

I really don't see how people can applaud this guy.
Firstly, the choice of target means that it's pretty much guaranteed to be a protest to the anti-R18+ travesty, not the national filter.
Secondly, it's not the OFLC's fault that we have no R18+ rating, it's Michael Atkinson's (may he rot in hell).
Finally, all this has done is progress the "nerd" persona that Atkinson himself has stated [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/90078], and given him yet another target to attack.
Expect a smartarse statement from Atkinson within the week.

If you really want to protest, set up camp outside his house with pitchforks and burning torches... okay, admittedly that would do nothing, it would just look awesome.

 

[Mask of 1000 Faces]

I'm suprised the site shut down. How hard is it to delete a message and resume normal operations? Maybe he went a little farther and they're just not telling us. *shrug*

No backups.

Anyway, he's a cracker not a hacker, and he is doing nothing to further the cause.

"FREEDOMZ"? Thanks a lot douche bag.

God-damned amateur. Probably found some script kiddie SQL in a search form. I hope he gets caught and quartered for his bullshit prank, and stuffed in some pound-you-in-the-hello prison so he learns to grow the hell up when he wants to protest.

Heh, touche.

And heck, if we're torturing him, we may as well just get medieval. Maybe a minute or two in an Iron Maiden would make him take life more seriously.

 

[Azeban]

AI've been following this OFLC story for awhile thanks to Australian Gamer. I think this is the one thing America has a leg up on the rest of the world. Sure, we're fatter than the rest of you, but we can say and see whatever we feel like even if it's full of violence or hatred or sexuality. This OFLC shit would never go down in my country.

 

[ElephantGuts]

I'm telling you guys: Australia needs to have a revolution. Not only will these sorts of problems be solved, but the rest of the world will think a lot more of you.