http://doc.utwente.nl/75331/


This is an academic paper from Tewnte University in the Netherlands.

It claims that the tools used by Anonymous did not provide adequate security. On November 28, 2010, the world started watching the whistle blower website WikiLeaks to begin publishing part of the 250,000 US Embassy Diplomatic cables. In fact, a cyberwar started just before the initial release. Wikileaks has reported that their servers were experiencing distributed denial-of-service attacks (DDoS). Several companies started severed ties with WikiLeaks: Amazon and EvertDNS removed the WikiLeaks web- site from their servers. Swiss bank PostFinance froze the WikiLeaks assets and Mastercard and Visa.
Anonymous started a retaliation against PostFinance, PayPay, MasterCard, Visa, Moneybrookers.com and Amazon.com, named "Operation Payback".

The paper describes how the Anonymous group consists of volunteers that use a stress testing tool to perform the attacks. This tool, named LOIC (Low Orbit Ion Cannon), can be found both as a desktop application and as a Web page. Even though the group behind the attacks claims to be anonymous, the tools they provide do not offer any security services, such as anonymization. As a consequence, a hacktivist that volunteers to take part in such attacks can be traced back easily. This is the case for both current versions of the LOIC tool., The goal of the report is to present an analysis of privacy issues in the context of these attacks, and raise awareness on the risks of taking part in them. (Aiko Pras, 2010)

Works Cited
Aiko Pras, A. S. (2010). Attacks by "Anonymous" WikiLeaks Proponents not Anonymous. Retrieved April 6, 2011, from University of Twente: http://doc.utwente.nl/75331/

Read more: http://news.cnet.com/8301-10789_3-9857666-57.html#ixzz1IhGiaMe6


In 2008 Anonymous called on its members to rise up against the Church of Scientology after a video of Tom Cruise -- one of the most high-profile Scientologists -- leaked on the Internet. In The video Cruise preaches the virtues of Scientology. In response Anonymous, set up a Web site to coordinate a string of Denial of Service attacks using phone, Internet and fax methods which it called "Project Chanology."

Denial-of-service attacks are usually launched to make a particular service unavailable to the public and Internal access. These attacks may be launched using one single computer or many computers across the world. In the latter scenario, the attack is known as a distributed denial of service attack. These attacks do not require access into anyone's system. This is a popular Anonymous mode of "civil disobedience" as the impact can be substantial but not permanent and draws main line media publicity . (Cyber Crime, 2010)

"It is very simple for anyone to launch an attack because denial-of-service tools can easily be procured from the Net. The major versions of distributed denial of service attack tools are Trinoo (or trin00), TFN, TFN2K and Stacheldraht. Denial-of-Service tools allow the attackers to automate and preset the times and frequencies of such attacks so that the attack is launched and then stopped to be launched once again later. This makes it very difficult, in fact almost impossible, to trace the source of the attack." (Cyber Crime, 2010)

Some Quotes from Anonymous:

"We shall proceed to expel you from the Internet and systematically dismantle the Church of Scientology in its present form."

"We are Anonymous
We are legion
We do not forgive
We do not forget.
Expect us."
Works Cited

Cyber Crime. (2010, November). Denial of Service Tools. Retrieved April 6, 2011, from Cyber Crime: http://cybercrime.planetindia.net/denial.htm
Vamosi, R. (2008, January 24). Anonymous hackers take on the Church of Scientology. Retrieved April 6, 2011, from Cnet: http://news.cnet.com/8301-10789_3-9857666-57.html#ixzz1IWxMyODr

http://vimeo.com/19806469

This interview describes itself as:" a look at the visuals that have made the web collective Anonymous a brand with Gabriella Coleman of the Department of Media, Culture, and Communication at NYU" However the interview is much more comprehensive than this definition with Professor Coleman outlining in an far more objective manner than the earlier posting from Fox11news the structure and interactions of Anonymous.

"We are Anonymous and we do not forgive; and we do not forget" Anonymous video posting.

Professor Coleman describes Anonymous as a protest movement that is not exclusive to the Internet but emerged from the Internet initially to protest against the Church of Scientology. It uses Internet Relay Chat (IRC) servers on line in different rooms to co-ordinate protest and activist initiatives. People can join these Communication channels but there are some forms of selection controls. IRC is a form of real-time Internet text messaging (chat) or synchronous conferencing. It is a multi-user, multi- channel chatting system. It allows one-to-one communication via private message as well as chat and data transfer including file sharing. In this manner, people from all over the world can talk to each other live and simultaneously. (An IRC Tutorial, 2004) There have been live protests where the people use Guy Fawkes masks to maintain anonymity.


"Anonymous has a loose and decentralized command structure which operates on ideas rather than activities. It is not a group but an Internet gathering". Anonymous video posting.

Anonymous has a Visual Culture based on the use of Guy Fawkes masks as an iconic means of maintaining anonymity and also uses a logo of a business suit without a head within a United Nations background to symbolize the dispersed nature of the leadership. (Brian Lehrer Live, 2011)

Works Cited
An IRC Tutorial. (2004, August 17). Retrieved April 4, 2011, from IRC Help: http://www.irchelp.org/irchelp/irctutorial.html
Anonymous (group). (2011, March 30). Retrieved April 3, 2011, from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anonymous_%28group%29
Brian Lehrer Live. (2011, february). Gabriella Coleman on Anonymous. Retrieved February 3, 2011, from Vimeo: http://vimeo.com/19806469
Fox11 News. (2007, july 2007). Anonymous on FOX11. Retrieved April 3, 2011, from YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNO6G4ApJQY

Anonymous on FOX11

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNO6G4ApJQY
This is a four minute so called investigative news item.

Anonymous is described as a Internet Meme originating in 2004 on the image board 4chan. (Anonymous (group), 2011) . The concept is of a global brain utilising a community of users each acting individually and anonymously but also collaborating in achieving often anarchist goals. It implies some form of structural identity but where individual identities are secret. These sub-cultures are not co-ordinated but are spontaneous and voluntary.

This news investigation from Fox11 television station in Los Angeles is particularly interesting as demonstrates a typical popular news beat up of issues and gives credibility to the concept of Anonymous as an organisation rather than a concept. It concentrates on such negatives as "hacker games, describes "death threats" and talks of "domestic bombings". It states there are "secret websites" linked to Anonymous . One of the YouTube comments summarises the alternative as "Anonymous aren't hackers. Anonymous is an IDEA."

This concept is not collaboration in the normal meaning of the word but like minds randomly drawn together for activist related activities where motivations could range from serious believers in a cause to anarchist enjoyment of rebellion against authority. The tools used for this type of collaboration can range from sophisticated and often illegal hacking software to websites, blogs and messaging of one type or another. This is particularly true where there have been Denial of Service attacks.





Works Cited
Anonymous (group). (2011, March 30). Retrieved April 3, 2011, from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anonymous_%28group%29
Fox11 News. (2007, july 2007). Anonymous on FOX11. Retrieved April 3, 2011, from YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNO6G4ApJQY