Branded "The Digilantes," Anonymous Hackers has made quite a statement in the online world. And since they've started way back in 2003, the hacktivist group seemed to have flourished, countering every form of "evil" they meet along the way, barring none - from law enforcement agencies like NYPD to Muslim extremist group, ISIS.
And their campaigns are nothing short of legendary. What is most disturbing is the group seem to be invincible throwing its weight around online when and where it wants to. The deeper question circling in everyone's mind is: what if they go berserk?
Lately this week, the JAZA (Japan Association of Zoos and Aquarium) website was hit by a cyberattack and the dynamics of the attack was telling. Phone numbers and email addresses, the usual targets, were exposed. This time it was that of the animal keepers across the nation being uploaded to the internet as reported by NHK this Wednesday.
The culprit: Anonymous Hackers. The underground group claimed responsibility exposing 2,350 email addresses and phone numbers of zoo keepers from 130 of 152 JAZA members, notes the Japanese association.
The area of contention: dolphins. It appears the hacktivist group was protesting against the capture and exhibit of dolphins and killer whales inside man-made aquariums.
A web page where the leaked info was distributed flaunted the much-dreaded Anonymous signature. And along with it, messages in protest against the exploitation of the sea creatures.
As a countermeasure, JAZA has since shut down their website.
The same story has been repeated in a string of attacks masterminded by Anonymous. The good thing is the group brandishes a cause every time - despite its highly-questionable methods.
Some of its latest capers:
- 53,000 email addresses stolen from the World Trade Organization education website, plus names, numbers and titles of more than 2,100 officials early this May.
Apparent Cause: environmental protection
- 800 Islamic State Twitter accounts shut down this February.
Apparent Cause: in retaliation for the Charlie Hebdo attacks.
One hack at a time, Anonymous aims to advance its cause or more accurately causes. That one should be clear by now even with its largely illegal methods. However, like Google's "Don't be evil" slogan, it's in the eventual interpretation that gray areas arise.
In the meantime, the hacktivist organization is busy keeping itself out of anyone's radar. Already, ISIS has issued threats to exterminate its members.
Yet, the more it acts as the leveler for whatever noble cause catches its fancy, the greater the danger of it being exposed. And yes, as long as they remains anonymous, Anonymous Hackers is good to go.
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