Blog Two


“Hacktivism is when one or more people hack, or breach into a computer system, for a politically or socially motivated purpose. The individual or group who achieves the act of hacktivism is also called a hacktivist (searchsecurity)” A hacktivist will use similar gadgets and methods just like a hacker, but the hacktivist will have a distinct direction on how to intercept the services and bring acknowledge to a political or social event. For instance, someone could leave a highly noticeable note on the front page of a Web site that is very popular or which embodies a point-of-view that is being opposed. Some might characterize hacktivists as vigilantes.
One example of a hacktivists activity is back in 2015 when the hacktivist group, Anonymous took down the Islamic State, ISIS, social media accounts (thehackernews). Thankfully Anonymous took down parts of ISIS online because of their presence on social media accounts, due to the fact that they were the most active terrorist group on Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook. Thankfully the hacktivist group, Anonymous, decided upon their selves to take down dozens of their Facebook and Twitter accounts. “There was indications that ISIS had hundreds of Twitter and Facebook accounts, but Anonymous found them and released it to the public. Twitter has already suspended more than 1500 ISIS accounts since the group released the first list in June” as well as “dozens of militant recruiting websites were knocked offline using collective DDoS Attack (thehackernews).”
Another example took place later that year with the same group. Once Anonymous was done with ISIS, their next target was Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump’s turn, due to his spreading of Islamophobia. A cluster of anonymous online hacktivists who went under the name #OpTrump targeted Trump’s website for several hours with a spread of denial for service attacks on December 9, 2015 to condemn the real-estate mogul for his anti-Muslim comments (anonhq). Unfortunately, it’s due to the person who they attacked, showed differently to people’s reactions. The group called Anonymous posted a video saying that Donald Trump, you have been warned for your actions to ban all Muslims from incoming into America. When more Muslims feel unsatisfied, ISIS will capitalize on their feelings and try and recruit them. ISIS will make an example of how America is targeting all Muslims instead of just the radical ones and market that for their campaign them to join them. You have been warned (anonhq).” Some people thought as them as criminals while others thought as them as heroes.
            A third example of hacktivists activity is once again done the Anonymous group went out on rampage and this time took it international again. This time their aim was at Japan in protect against whaling. The hacktivist group Anonymous has attacked at least 97 websites in Japan since September, in protest of the country’s decision to continue its whaling programme in the Southern Ocean. The personal website of the Japanese prime minister, Shinzo Abe, was disabled during the groups attacks (anonhq). Despite drawing global condemnation from animal rights defenders and governments worldwide, Japan has continued to hunt cetaceans. In early December, Japan’s whaling fleet left port for the Antarctic, where it plans to conduct “lethal research.” The action prompted an international protest, led by Australia and New Zealand, against the slaughter in the Southern Ocean.


            In my opinion hacktivists attacks are more criminal instead of being harmless. A new survey has been discovered that while a vast majority of people believe hacktivist groups are actually breaking the law, even with that number, at least half of them also think that hacktivist groups think that they are required to step in when no one else will. Even if they do not do much damage, that just shows that they have not done damage yet. A hacktivist is illegally breaking into your account and meddling with it. Just because they can do it, doesn’t mean they should do it. “The results revealed that 66% of citizens believe that hacktivist groups are breaking the law and should be stopped (securitybrief),” two thirds of the groups, people find them illegal and criminals.

           

Works Cited:
http://anonhq.com/anonymous-declares-war-on-donald-trump/
http://anonhq.com/opwhales-anonymous-hacks-97-sites-in-japan-in-protest-against-whaling/
http://searchsecurity.techtarget.com/definition/hacktivism
https://thehackernews.com/2015/02/anonymous-isis-cyber-attack.html
https://securitybrief.co.nz/story/hacktivists-good-guys-or-bad-guys/


Comments

  1. Stacy MaxonFebruary 23, 2018 at 6:17 AM

    I agree that hacktivists should face criminal charges. As with most online activities, the effects of their actions are much more harmful than merely participating in a normal protest. In the article “How one man tracked down Anonymous and paid a heavy price,” it states that the FBI agrees that Anonymous should face criminal charges and has been executing search warrants looking for them. The CEO, Aaron Barr, of the security firm HBGary worked on tracking down Anonymous publicly which he would hope would bring attention to the wrong-doings of the group. Instead Anonymous was able to infiltrate Barrs website and emails and used it to create a pro-anonymous message. It even got to the point where Anonymous asked for Barr to be fired and give up one months salary to one of their causes. It’s scary that these hacktivist groups seem untouchable.


    Works Cited
    Anderson, Nate ““How one man tracked down Anonymous and paid a heavy price” February 9, 2011 https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2011/02/how-one-security-firm-tracked-anonymousand-paid-a-heavy-price/ Accessed 2/23/2018.

    ReplyDelete
  2. UnknownFebruary 23, 2018 at 3:06 PM

    I agree that a hacktivist has done a lot of damage and the fact that they are too criminals. To support on what you were saying about hacktivist being criminals. In March, 2016 Adam G. Klein writes an article “ How Anonymous Hacked Donald Trump” in this this article it talks about the anonymous wanted to declare “ Total War” on Trump, at first the anonymous wanted everyone to target his website on April fools day but that wasn't the real mission in that case. Hackers were aiming to tear down something valuable to Trump more than anything his Brand. On March 17, the anonymous had gone to far they had posted his social security and cell phone number out there which made Trump very angry he had call for an arrest and hired FBI to go on search for the investigation on whose doing all of this. This was a major shock to me to hear about something like this in my opinion i feel as if the anonymous was taking things too far by publishing someone private information things like this should not be allowed.

    WorksCited
    https://theconversation.com/how-anonymous-hacked-donald-trump-56794

    ReplyDelete

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