All of you know that my main concern regarding Anonymous is the kind of protests they carry on. While they consider a DDoS attack a ‘peaceful protest’ the real thing is that it is a crime. However, it seems we can have some hope: Anonymous has started #OpPayPal and is asking users to close their PayPal accounts. There are a lot of messages in Twitter with the hashtag #OpPayPal, and some users are even publishing screenshots of their just closed account.
The bad news? I’m afraid they will go back to their illegal methods at any moment, and while I’m writing this I’ve just seen that members of LulzSec (related to Anonymous) could be crossing (again) the line:
I say ‘could’ because this could be a fake There is also a message in Pastebin but there is no way to guarantee it really comes fro LulzSec. Anonymous will publish a press release later today, I’ll let you know any updates.
Update, 08:53 GMT
The following release has been published through Pastebin:
Dear PayPal, its customers, and our friends around the globe,
This is an official communiqué from Anonymous and Lulz Security in the name of AntiSec.
In recent weeks, we’ve found ourselves outraged at the FBI’s willingness to arrest and threaten those who are involved in ethical, modern cyber operations. Law enforcement continues to push its ridiculous rules upon us – Anonymous “suspects” may face a fine of up to 500,000 USD with the addition of 15 years’ jailtime, all for taking part in a historical activist movement. Many of the already-apprehended Anons are being charged with taking part in DDoS attacks against corrupt and greedy organizations, such as PayPal.
What the FBI needs to learn is that there is a vast difference between adding one’s voice to a chorus and digital sit-in with Low Orbit Ion Cannon, and controlling a large botnet of infected computers. And yet both of these are punishable with exactly the same fine and sentence.
In addition to this horrific law enforcement incompetence, PayPal continues to withhold funds from WikiLeaks, a beacon of truth in these dark times. By simply standing up for ourselves and uniting the people, PayPal still sees it fit to wash its hands of any blame, and instead encourages and assists law enforcement to hunt down participants in the AntiSec movement.
Quite simply, we, the people, are disgusted with these injustices. We will not sit down and let ourselves be trampled upon by any corporation or government. We are not scared of you, and that is something for you to be scared of. We are not the terrorists here: you are.
We encourage anyone using PayPal to immediately close their accounts and consider an alternative. The first step to being truly free is not putting one’s trust into a company that freezes accounts when it feels like, or when it is pressured by the U.S. government. PayPal’s willingness to fold to legislation should be proof enough that they don’t deserve the customers they get. They do not deserve your business, and they do not deserve your respect.
Join us in our latest operation against PayPal – tweet pictures of your account closure, tell us on IRC, spread the word. Anonymous has become a powerful channel of information, and unlike the governments of the world, we are here to fight for you. Always.
Signed, your allies,
Lulz Security (unvanned)
Anonymous (unknown)
AntiSec (untouchable)
Panda Security specializes in the development of endpoint security products and is part of the WatchGuard portfolio of IT security solutions. Initially focused on the development of antivirus software, the company has since expanded its line of business to advanced cyber-security services with technology for preventing cyber-crime.
26 comments
There’s plenty of illegal protest methods which have been the means of many “Real activists”.
Illegal. Remember when black drinking fountains were legal?
What value do you put in legality?
Explain. You do realize there’s no such thing as misdemeanor hacking statutes. Think about that for a moment.
Also it says shop which means photoshop and hotel which means account names from another raid.
Your support for legality in the face of absurdity (15 years for sending electrons, 11 for rape) is purely rhetorical and devoid of substance.
un crimen un DDOS?
es aun menos que una manifestación pacÃfica,
no se olviden ustedes que a cada cerdo le llega su SMartin!
SÃ, efectivamente, se trata de un delito en muchos paÃses.
Si, efectivamente, te recuerdo que los actos de protesta pacifica son un delito en muchos paises de este mundo.
Que ciertas actividades se hayan criminalizado con la pasividad o la ignorancia de la mayoria no significan que no sean actos de protesta pacifica.
Negar la mayor seria promocionar la ignorancia.
You have to be kidding.
God bless anonymous for taking a stand while cowards like you offer nothing but whining on a silly little blog.
“We encourage anyone using PayPal to immediately close their accounts and consider an alternative”
Yeah, good luck with that. The only real alternative is WePay and that (at least the last time I checked) is US only. Any other alternatives are just too underused to be anywhere near a viable replacement.
I am neutral in my opinion towards the methods used by Anonymous. However, this sentence in your article bothers me:
“While they consider a DDoS attack a ‘peaceful protest’ the real thing is that it is a crime.”
If protesting in public, let’s say, by marching down a street with messages on signs would be illegal as well, would you say:
“While they consider a marching down a street a ‘peaceful protest’ the real thing is that it is a crime.” ?
Would you argue that stopping traffic is just as bad as temporarily disabling a site through a DDOS-attack?
I have my own opinions though. Just because something is a law, doesn’t necessarily make it right.
Hi Magne, DDoS attacks go beyond what we usually see. THis is a tactic used by cybercriminals for years. Remember that when you are attacking a web, that site is hosted in a server that could be hosting hundreds or thousands of other websites. In case the attack affects the server, it will affect all those other sites. And not only that, another thing we are not usually aware of is the amount of money that has to be paid when your traffic starts skyrocvkertting due to those attacks. Copying the attacks cybercriminals have been doing for years is not what I understand as a ‘peaceful protest’.
Revolution is always illegal.
“Anonymous” and “LulzSec” are nothing but a bunch of pansy-assed, pimple-faced cyber-bullies, with the collective emotional IQ of a spoiled 2 year old who can’t have a cookie from breakfast.
They don’t give a shit about anyone but themselves, or are driven by their egos and thirst for media attention. They sully the term “hackers.”
Wow you really know how to through out adjectives. I bet you’re really good with english. How about stick with that and let these fine young people stand against goliath and take him down. You don’t know the first thing about hackers or hacking for that matter. Go back to your english class and suck on your thumb.
Illegal. Something against the law. Law written by men. Men saying that taking offline the homepage of a rich company is worst than raping an innocent girl. Any intelligent person will understand that this is unjust. Any intelligent person wishing to better her society will protest against this law. But protest is against law. Now what will an intelligent and willful person do?
You are free because historically people went against the law for greater justice. If people of the past would’ve remained lawful, you’ll still be plowing your field by hand and offering your daughter’s virginity to your landlord.
DDOS attacks against these corrupt companies may be illegal, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t moral and just!
Laws are too often shaped by greedy corporations and those with influence to protect their position and their right to abuse. This is why it takes much more than being lawful to be a good person.
I personally, salute these brave young people who have the courage to risk their own freedom in a fight against these multinational corrupt companies. They are doing the right thing.
Exactly.
Simpy absurd. Anon is fighting for freedom. The United States gov wants to punish these so called “Hacktivists” for doing what the very country was founded upon, standing up for their rights. Go Anons
I approve of Anonymous’ methods of shutting up their political opponents. Would they approve of using the same tactics against, say, Democrats or Euro-Socialists to shut them up?
i don’t understand a damn thing that is going on….paypal has always been good to me….i used them for years and haven’t had a problem with them….i don’t care what yall do…i sit back go to work everyday pay my taxes…i mind my own business…..how about everyone else…i don’t particularly like what our government is doing to america….but what can we do about it….nothing….they going to do just what they want to….they steel from us our wages….they cut back our bennafits…but you don’t see them suffering with cutbacks….just imagine how much congress makes…all the house….and the president….why don’t they take a cut in their pay…most of our military i heard had to fight for their pay….so when is america going to help america and mind their own business…..they will never do that cause they want to control the world….man i am not anti government….communist or what ever you call it….i lost my house my job and two vehicles….because jindel didn’t take the stimulas plan obama offered…that was me and my kids sleeping in a car…then they wanted to take my kids from me cause i didn’t have no where to go until i got my last check…i went to the shelter….where was the government when i lost everything…they say there are bennefits that help you out during times like this…not for me…..oh no not for me….people all around me was getting homes i was on the waiting list for two years….and still on it that was 5 years ago….it is all who you know….and that is ashame…it is not first come first serve basis like it should be…..it is all about knowing the people in the office…..well i am not going to waste my time talking about this anymore….like i said….paypal been good to me….help me understand why you want people to close there accounts please….