Update: Anonymous Hacks Everything For Guy Fawkes Day

[DiamanteGeeza]

Guys! Guys!

Let's wear the face of a terrorist who wanted to install an even more oppressive Catholic regime!

While we're at, let's put Nazi swastikas on our arms to represent ethnic diversity!

I was thinking the same thing, but you beat me to it! LOL.

 

[DiamanteGeeza]

So, it appears people are not happy with this. Hooray!

I wouldn't mind if they went after their old targets of oppressive banks or people trying to regulate the internet (which is what they are supposed to be protecting) but this is just vandalism. Not worthy of the Anon name.

Anonymous is not, and never has been, a group of "Hacktivists" despite that being projected onto them. Anonymous has always presented itself as a force of unpredictable chaos. Before all of the so called "hacktivism" you should take a serious look at what they did, a lot of which was NOT nice and justified by the famous "for the lulz" explanation.

While Anonymous has thrown down for internet freedom related causes, which I always suspected because crackdowns could very well affect their own brand of chaos, it's done far more than that.

To be honest the eclectic collection of targets aimed at here is what you should expect from Anonymous, don't let the exceptions, as famous and popular as they might be, interfere with your understanding of the entity your dealing with.

-

That said, in response to the article itself, my immediate guess is that like many large scale offensives this was conducted by differant individuals (and groups) who all picked their own targets without any real theme, other than the specific date. It was probably done to show Anonymous is out there and still pretty strong despite crackdowns. Their shotgun blast of random targets kind of shows that nothing from goverment sites, to those of private figures, and pop culture gurus are safe, nor are they aiming entirely at wrong doers.

I suppose some of the odder choices do make a degree of sense, some even from a hacktivism standpoint. Assaulting an Austrlian disabillity bureau is something you'd have to look at the policies of to see if it was random/chaos or a message based hack by those conducted it. Despite the popular, left-wing, perception, helping disabled people isn't all that these groups get up to, it rapidly becomes about power. Such organizations have been used as a blunt object to call people on "code violations" and the like, some politician doesn't like you and he can insist your back door has a handicap ramp costing thousands of dollars despite all common sense, it can be used to shut dowm an condemn buildings, and similar things that have nothing to do with legitimate uses of the granted power and how it was intended. Among other things. I can't say much about that organization. "Lady Gaga" likewise is pretty much pop culture, she creates the illusion of being subversive, doing so in a more or less socially accepted way, that might get attention but not so much that it represnets more than a trivial annoyance. It's hard for me to put into words, but I can see how true subversives might dislike her. ICP (Insane Clown Posse) was more over the top than she is, especially during their height, and actually seemed to be one of the favorite targets of Anonymous and other similar groups with or without ties to it like Encyclpedia Dramtica or Something Awful.

My guess is that the targets were less random, and more the ones with the weaker security (perhaps an older OS version), that had a well documented exploit that these clowns could use.

These aren't hackers. These are script kiddies.

 

[Al-Bundy-da-G]

So they took a British holiday and took targets that are American...Yeah. If you're going to do anything on this day, at least try and keep the tradition and attack political targets.

we all live in America

Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't the whole plot to destroy parliament a ploy to install a tyrannical regime not the other way round?

 

[General Vagueness]

So, instead of taking down Zynga and Facebook they defaced a website that helps handicapped people? Um, gratz?

And, please, we don't need a dissertation from someone explaining "Anonymous isn't a set group of people etc etc" that people feel they need to post every time these stories come up

Well no one (except you I guess) seems to be getting it. You should be disappointed in Anonymous, but not because they have or had a noble mission or really any mission, because they never did.

 

[General Vagueness]

It's not legal to brainwash these kids into a paramilitary organization that overthrows dictatorships is it? 'Cuz I've always wanted to try that.

Sadly, no. It isn't.

Besides, a lot of African paramilitaries are so similar and generic that taking one down just leaves room for the other. The "Invisible Children" idiots who wanted to overthrow Joseph Kony in a completely misinformed attempt at online activism ended up having to support Uganda's elected officials - which aren't in any way better than Kony's forces.

As for North Korea? Why bother?

because their government is limiting food (and everything else) to the point that people are starving to death... a lot

Their tech is obsolete and they basically act the part of the little yipping Pomeranian who thinks it's so tough when it ambles up to you and starts growling that any attempt to hack their networks is more likely to stick South Korea in trouble than anything else. SK is widely known for acting apologetic towards its northern little brother, because they do remember that Korea used to be unified. A lot of South Koreans know people in the north, so they'll never go "YEAH, FUCK 'EM UP!" like most other countries seem to be inclined to do.

Well the Korean war was over half a century ago now and North Korea keeps insisting they'll have long-range mass-destruction capabilities before we know it, so that's diminishing.

 

[IamLEAM1983]

Well the Korean war was over half a century ago now and North Korea keeps insisting they'll have long-range mass-destruction capabilities before we know it, so that's diminishing.

A dictatorship that can't keep its people fed would actually have enough resources to pull WMDs together? That's new. I'm more likely to believe that Iran is inclined to try and nuke us infidels out of existence than South Korea would be at making its northern compatriots fear them.

There's been a recent Critical Intel article, here on the Escapist, that explained why North Korea passes the litmus test for an easily objectionable video game bad guy. Everything from Crysis to Homefront used to focus on China being the Big Bad, but considering the West's strong economic ties to China, that's really a political faux pas.

North Korea gets its fair share of jeers and one-note video game portrayals precisely because it can't keep anyone who's not in the military or tech sectors fed. Which is a crying shame, seeing as I do remember hearing about how actually notable and respectable North Korean campuses are. They have such stringent measures and push for excellence to such a degree that they're crapping out five-star polyglot engineers and programmers left and right. The only problem is that they feel ideologically beholden to a pretty crappy regime.

 

[Ashannon Blackthorn]

umm...why? no wait I'll just say ...okay?

maybe they should target EA and Activision lol...

As annoying as those two are, I'd prefer it if they took down or defaced say, the World Bank website. Maybe go after the PNAC website next. I won't be so passe as to say they should go after Fox or newscorp, but shutting down Russia Today would be funny. Finally, for shits and giggles, Haliburton.

Seriously, if you want to support the cause of freedom through cyberspace, go big or go home and physically do something.

They don't have the balls to go after real targets cause some of those groups would simply track them down and put a bullet in their head. Cause you know all those rights and laws and freedoms that they crow on about? Lotta places don't follow those rules. You piss off the wrong group of Russians, they kill you to prove a point. Anon doesn;t do anything to the Mexican drug cartels for that reason. Hard ot be a "hero" when you're swinging from a bridge.

 

[barbzilla]

The quote "You either die a hero or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain" comes to mind.
Anonymous reminds me of the same punks who think anarchy is all about destruction. Yet another group of people who fight for a cause without direction or purpose.

Couldn't agree more. On the Anarchy thing though; Many people do not realise the true meaning of the word, and as such it has taken on a new definition. Traditionally though it is a system of peaceful rule without a centralized government. Imagine the US States without DC and the politicians. Now allow those states to govern themselves, but with peaceful means only. That is pretty close to the concept of Anarchy. The whole rebellion, lawlessness, and destruction thing is purely what people have come to think of Anarchy, mostly due to media.

 

[barbzilla]

A dictatorship that can't keep its people fed would actually have enough resources to pull WMDs together? That's new.

This is very common in despotism. Why worry for your people, when you can force them to serve you. Why bother spending your military budget on food for some peasant who isn't serving your purposes? That money they don't spend somewhere, goes somewhere else. It isn't inconceivable for them to possess WMDs, however I imagine it would be cheaper to buy one on the black market than redesign the wheel, so there is some merit to your idea of scare tactics.

The other issue we face is that it isn't just the North Koreans we have to worry about. China supports its communist neighbor, and they have the manpower to pull off whatever they need.

 

[Evil Smurf]

I celebrate Guy Fawkes Day the way he wanted it celebrated...by killing Protestants.

at the stake I hope, I won't have any non burning solutions from you, or anybody!

 

[ReinWeisserRitter]

You know, the other day I saw some nonsense about these guys and thought to myself that they'd probably get right behind using V from V For Vendetta's image, failing to realize that part of the message of the story was the damage people who act blindly in the name of activism and self-righteousness can do, and how easy it is to dupe people into dealing that damage.

This was one of those times I hate to be right.

 

[Roxas1359]

Screw the handicapped people of Australia, the government has given them special treatment for too long! What's next, draining the funds from a Cancer Research center. Seriously they never had a "noble mission" and as many others have already mention here don't know what Guy Fawkes wanted people to do. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm off to kill some Protestants.
[sub]Joking on the Protestant thing.[/sub]

 

[Zeraki]

Well at least one good thing about me not having power for ten days following Sandy was that I missed this nonsense.

That and I didn't have to put up with those damn political ads on TV.

 

[The White Hunter]

Umm.... Yay? Fight for the people... I guess?

I feel so empowered now.... I think?

Yeah I feel really empowered by the potential theft of paypal account information, Nice one anonymous, I now dislike you very much.

Don't wory,ude. I think I'm as confused as you are right now.

If I lose moneys from paypal thanks to anonymous I'ma have to find a way of kirb-stomping some bitches > >

I don't have much as it is.

Wankers.

Captcha: remain calm

No! Frak you captcha!

And I'll be next in line to do so! Wouldn't mind Capcom getting hacked,I'll tell you that much.

Wait I never said frak I said fuck. What we can't swear on here anymore? God fudging damn it...

Ehhh, there are worse evils than Capcom I'd just like to give Capcom some advice for the future is all. As it turns out they didn't touch paypal, which is nice.

Nice avatar by the way long nose.

 

[The White Hunter]

Umm.... Yay? Fight for the people... I guess?

I feel so empowered now.... I think?

Yeah I feel really empowered by the potential theft of paypal account information, Nice one anonymous, I now dislike you very much.

Don't wory,ude. I think I'm as confused as you are right now.

If I lose moneys from paypal thanks to anonymous I'ma have to find a way of kirb-stomping some bitches > >

I don't have much as it is.

Wankers.

Captcha: remain calm

No! Frak you captcha!

And I'll be next in line to do so! Wouldn't mind Capcom getting hacked,I'll tell you that much.

Wait I never said frak I said fuck. What we can't swear on here anymore? God fudging damn it...

Ehhh, there are worse evils than Capcom I'd just like to give Capcom some advice for the future is all. As it turns out they didn't touch paypal, which is nice.

Nice avatar by the way long nose.

Nah,I did that just to mess with ya. XD

Yeah,I swear, somebody needs to give those guys an intervention. Guess what,guys? We actually want Megaman games! Recent good ones,too! You have a wealth of IPs that many want more of,so why not give the people (Non RE fans that is) what they want?

Long nose?! This from a perverted sage! XD

I've been meaning to become a perverted Cyborg bro but I just can't get the gif to work properly.

Yeah I do want real megaman games! I also want great Resident Evil games, which have been lacking, and new IP and great DMC titles and creative stuff like Viewtiful Joe!