This article is the first in a two-part series tracing the development of the amorphous online community known as Anonymous, pranksters who have become a force in global affairs.
>> AUTHOR: deepquest
If there’s one thing people associate with modern technology, it’s passwords. They’re everywhere, and most of us use them for dozens of things every day.
Buoyed by the success of the anti-SOPA protests and riled by the shutdown of Megaupload, Anonymous has launched a worldwide campaign of attacks against governments it thinks have overstepped their mandate.
Internet hacking savants under the name "Anonynous (Anon)" disabled multiple government and corporate websites including the Department of Justice, the FBI, Universal Music and more Thursday in retaliation to the FBI shutting down MegaUpload.com, a file sharing website accused of hosting pirated materials.
Aaron Barr, a cyber security analyst for federal contractor Sayers and Associates, was recently fired from his latest job for “spending too much time” on his pursuit of Anonymous.
Anonymous, which briefly knocked the FBI and Justice Department websites offline in retaliation for the US shutdown of file-sharing site Megaupload, is a shadowy group of international hackers with no central hierarchy.
Security experts Sophos warn that links being forwarded on Twitter can make any PC an unwitting part of 'hacktivist' group Anonymous's cyber attacks – an act that could carry a jail sentence.
Hacker group Anonymous have become a cult hit on Twitter, with 249,000 followers – but security experts Sophos warn that fans, are being tricked into becoming part of them.
Hacker group Anonymous have become a cult hit on Twitter, with 249,000 followers – but security experts Sophos warn that fans, are being tricked into taking part in its attacks.
Hacking group Anonymous said Thursday it knocked out the websites of the FBI, U.S. Department of Justice, the Recording Industry of America, Motion Picture Association of America and Universal Music as retribution for anti-piracy efforts by the government and private industry.