The Evil New Tactic Behind Anonymous’ Massive Megaupload Revenge Attack

[seasight]

The hacktivist collective Anonymous is in the middle of a huge revenge spree after the Feds shut down popular filesharing site Megaupload. But they're using an evil new tactic that tricks people into helping their attack if they click an innocuous link

Comments

[lickety_split]

OP re: The Tags

intellectual freedom, internet, internet/net neutrality/piracy

[seasight]

Tagged!

[mrasaki]

...how do you prove intent?

[seasight]

How do you prove you didn't intend to, is more worrying for me!

[mrasaki]

idk, with the number of people who are truly clueless with computers (like half of my workplace, ffs) could they really prosecute someone who goes, 'But I just clicked something and I don't know what it did?!?!' I mean, isn't it similar to clicking on a link in a spam email, getting a virus or a worm that does things in the background without your knowledge?

Although, this precludes the FBI or whoever just being total fuckers about it.

[kyakki]

While I do not doubt about them using such a tactic, Anonymous has always been known for their numbers. Tricking people with little basic computer skill is not going to make up any dramatic portion of their forces.

[layweed]

I totally agree with you.

[blondebeaker]

My fiance is IT and I haven't seen him since yesterday morning. A bunch of school websites got hit with DDOS attacks, which happened shortly after Megaupload was taken down. Don't know if it was Anon's doing but it pissed my guy off something fierce.

Especially since a couple of the school boards use their website to broadcast bus and school cancellations. Thankfully two areas affect just got over their extreme cold alerts and snowstorm so the broadcasts were not needed.

[bnmc2005]

And see how quickly the SOPA/PIPA blackouts have been wiped from any discussion in the news because of what Anonymous did.

[crucified]

That's scary. :/

[lonely_hour]

Indeed. My exact reaction to reading this.