How Anonymous Picks Targets, Launches Attacks, and Takes Powerful Organizations Down

[stonehart]

I saw this today on the Daily Grail and thought I may say a few words about it.

This is in fact not a bad blog on what happened and what Anon is, but it is not the full story I can tell you that. Read all five parts as they are not all that bad and not to inaccurate.

How Anonymous Picks Targets, Launches Attacks, and Takes Powerful Organizations Down | Threat Level | Wired.com
How Anonymous Picks Targets, Launches Attacks, and Takes Powerful Organizations Down | Threat Level | Wired.com
How Anonymous Picks Targets, Launches Attacks, and Takes Powerful Organizations Down | Threat Level | Wired.com
How Anonymous Picks Targets, Launches Attacks, and Takes Powerful Organizations Down | Threat Level | Wired.com
How Anonymous Picks Targets, Launches Attacks, and Takes Powerful Organizations Down | Threat Level | Wired.com

There are a huge amount of myths surrounding Anon and what it really is and many do not understand how it started and what /b/ really is (well was at the time). It had its sick freaks but 4chan was and is more than just /b/. So I really mean this when I say "That after a cursory look at /b/ you quickly realize that it's never really had anything to do with this whole political activism that gets people all railed up or to use a /b/ term "Hurp Durp".
:

The mask you may not realize is a joke, and always was, google fail guy cartoon and you will see.

That will explain my choice for using it as my avatar here ... yep its a joke.

"Occupy was not an Anonymous plan, and anons were far from a majority of the movement."

I have trouble explaining this to people who think they started it.. they did not but many were involved and helped very early on in its evolution.

(Yes I skipped the Scientology saga as it is freely available for people to read about. What happened was that anon realized it true power "like the big kid who gets bullied but one day punches the bully and it dawns on him that he is very powerful.")

Anyway this bit is a good summation:

"But Anonymous declared support for it very early, well before the September 17 start date, and thereby helped to bring far more media attention to the project than it would have gotten otherwise. Moreover, Anonymous’ support helped to lend a sense of power that US protest movements in recent decades have lacked: namely, the implication that Occupy was capable of serious retaliation if authorities crossed a line."

That bit is bang on correct!

This video sums what I always felt Anon really was.

I agree that the taking out of Sabu was a blow to a small section of Anon at the time, but it is the beast with a million heads (I really mean this), so taking out one and maybe a few hundred others in the long run makes little or no impact on the organism as a whole.

Like it or not Anon is here to stay, or until the Anons get lazy and cant be bothered

All the information you want can be found on the web if you look. You know it is not hidden and never was about what Anon is as the Anons never saw the point in hiding it. Remember that all the operations were there for all to see on IRC if you wanted to get involved.

Do I personally agree with Anon .. Well Yes and No!! and that my friends is the point.
Anon is humanity with all its nasty bits and nice parts and you can not have the one without the other.

Yes it is childish, stupid, and irresponsible, but it is also grown up, intelligent, responsible and motivated. It is in all sense the paradox that is the human psyche.

Anyway read the blog it covers it quite well.

Disclaimer: I hope I do not offend anyone with this post as it it a touchy subject with many in regards to hacking. I find the whole anon phenomenon interesting and this is why I have a good understanding of its history etc.
I am no hacker (Personally I could not hack my way out of a wet paper bag) Not all those involved or who call themselves Anon are hackers and a brief study of its history so far will highlight this. Remember the name Anonymous simply came from the habit of not posting a name when making a post on an image board or comment section.

 

[mike]

Its been said the internets see censorship as an error, and routes around it.

Anonymous of course cannot be clearly defined, but my experience of it is born of that facet of the story.

It was inevitable though, and perhaps even necessary.

It wasnt that long ago that the masses had no platform for expressing themselves in public.
It was the exclusive province of Govt and media, and those who did use the limited platforms available ,the soapbox in the park on sunday afternoons, the signs and sandwich boards were generally considered crackpots.

Now of course just about everybody can express themselves in public thanks to the internet.
Amomymous or something like it was bound to be born in such a new paradigm of expression

 

[stonehart]

Its been said the internets see censorship as an error, and route saround it.

Anonymous of course cannot be clearly defined, but my experience of it is born of that facet of the story.

It was inevitable though, and perhaps even necessary.

It wasnt that long ago that the masses had no platform for expressing themselves in public.
It was the exclusive province of Govt and media, and those who did use the limited platforms available ,the soapbox in the park on sunday afternoons, the signs and sandwich boards were generally considered crackpots.

Now of course just about everybody can express themselves in public thanks to the internet.
Amomymous or something like it was bound to be born in such a new paradigm of expression

my thoughts exactly

 

[Muadib]

My only question is: exactly what powerful organizations have they taken down? I'm not talking about DDOSing websites either. As far as I can tell, they've never actually taken down a single organization. They've done serious damage to the mainstream credibility of certain organizations, like Scientology, however those fanatics aren't going to be dissuaded by even their closest family, much less a bunch of dudes on the internet. They just call you a "SP" and move on. I don't have any beef with them, I like what they do, but as far as taking powerful organizations down, I haven't seen them do it. Maybe I just haven't paid close enough attention but I think the whole phenomenon has been blown way out of proportion by government looking to paint a target on anyone who dissents.

 

[stonehart]

My only question is: exactly what powerful organizations have they taken down? I'm not talking about DDOSing websites either. As far as I can tell, they've never actually taken down a single organization. They've done serious damage to the mainstream credibility of certain organizations, like Scientology, however those fanatics aren't going to be dissuaded by even their closest family, much less a bunch of dudes on the internet. They just call you a "SP" and move on. I don't have any beef with them, I like what they do, but as far as taking powerful organizations down, I haven't seen them do it. Maybe I just haven't paid close enough attention but I think the whole phenomenon has been blown way out of proportion by government looking to paint a target on anyone who dissents.

No good analysis of what has gone on.
anon is about passing information on and making it public and very public at that.. will they take one down.. that depends on what outcome you get when you publish sensitive information on line for all to see I guess.

 

[mike]

On the topic of $cientology

Figures released to Lateline from the Australian Census show that in 2011, just 2,163 Australians called themselves Scientologists, a decrease of 13.7 per cent from the 2006 census.

Australians who describe themselves as Jedis now number over 65,000, over 30 times higher than Scientology's figures. (ouch.........)

Census shows scientology numbers going backwards - ABC Sydney - Australian Broadcasting Corporation

I think Anonymous did manage to downstat $cientology.

When $cientology first asked me to take their "personality test" the internets was just a gleam in the eyes of gates et al.
I didnt know who they were, or what they were about

Today a whole generation has been inoculated against the BS that is the cult of $cientology.
Thats thanks to the internets and Anonymous imo

 

[Muadib]

Yeah I totally agree with that, like I said in my post they definitely did serious damage to the Scylons mainstream cred. I was just pointing out that technically, they haven't been taken down, they're still out there spreading their horseshit. My point was that all this crap about Anon being some kind of super dangerous hacker/terrorist cell is bullshit media and government propaganda.

 

[Wade]

It pains me to say this but the $cientologists (good one mike) are also pretty frickin smart. The leaders realized some time ago that the way to get more people into the fold...and conveniently fill the coffers at the same time...was not through sermonizing but through hollywood. The organization is literally and figuratively buying up all of hollywood, people as well as property. Their message to america and the world, become a scientologist and this can happen to you. Its pretty genius, and insidious and disengenious. Join us, become rich and famous and use that newly gotten money to help enrichen the organization via tithes and buying the classes and materials to reach clear. Why should they be expected to offer people to better themselves for free when they can make a $H1T load of money selling themselves. If you're going to be a whore, at least be a rich whore. Of course they aren't the first church or religious organization (nor the last) to become obscenely powerful by enriching themselves, they just took it to the nTH degree. How smart are they ? Look at how they got their hooks into that anti-cult organization.

Cult Awareness Network - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I did read the wired article and while I wouldn't disagree with the observation that anon did downsize them, the saint petersburg times (check them out) has probably done a better job at it. they have almost made a career at hacking away at scientology 's formidable shield, still, both organizations have a sisyphean task ahead of them.

When I think of movement anon. I always flashback to one of my all time favorite movies "brazil" and that group that tuttle and jill belonged to.if it had a name I've forgotten it for the time being but between the guy fawkes mask, in the movie It was closer to a cherub mask (?) and the whole cog in the machine thing and fighting against a bureaucracy. Most people would probably think V for vendetta would be a more apt comparison but I think of brazil.

 

[stonehart]

Nice post spooky but the $cientologists in the case of Anon do not know how to fight back.
The normal tactic is to attack, discredit, and intimidate the individual... lol now you can see the problem with Anon then in this case..... um just who do they attack.

It really messed with them I can tell you, for they just had no idea what to do and who to go after.

 

[Muadib]

Don't forget their fallback tactic "sue them into submission" They really are one of the more litigious cults out there.

 

[Wade]

Don't forget their fallback tactic "sue them into submission" They really are one of the more litigious cults out there.

That's how they got ahold of the cult awareness network and trash every cult out there with the notable exception of.......wait for it...... THEMSELVES !!!! Tah daaaahhhh...

 

[Wade]

Nice post spooky but the $cientologists in the case of Anon do not know how to fight back.
The normal tactic is to attack, discredit, and intimidate the individual... lol now you can see the problem with Anon then in this case..... um just who do they attack.

It really messed with them I can tell you, for they just had no idea what to do and who to go after.

Like worker drone bees without a queen !

 

[Rikki]

here is how you get thier attention!

 

[Muadib]

I can't stand these people, I never make statements like this, but I wish someone would wipe these Westboro shitheads off the face of the earth.

 

[Rikki]

true story oh well..

 

[Wade]

Thank you for posting this rikki. GoodnessGracious, I thought I was contemptuous of these clowns before but you managed to bring my contempt to a whole new level. What a 5h1T eating grin that mindless drone carried on her, I wonder how these people will feel when people starting protesting/demonstrating at one of their funerals which afaic can't happen soon enough. I shudder to think these people walk on the same earth I do.