– Satyakam Ray
Being shrouded by masks, and well versed in breaching security networks, the Anonymous hackers are creating a new brand of internet activism. Read on to find out…
Despite the international ban on whaling, hunting whales for profit was widespread in Iceland. The Icelandic company HValue generated significant profits through this illicit practice of whale hunting. In 2015, the scale of the brazen activity was revealed. The infamous hacker group known as Anonymous exposed it. They targeted the government websites in Iceland. They also took down Hvalue’s website for nearly 13 hours. This was in solidarity with the dying whales. According to Anonymous, the whales had no voices, so they would serve as their voices.
More activity of Anonymous:
The group’s activity is aimed at taking down government-run websites. They also focus on publicizing the names, numbers, and addresses of many officials accused of oppressing the voiceless. The whale incident led to an unknown hacker group taking down almost 20,000 malicious tweets of the ISIS terrorists. They are staging an online war against the Islamic organization. Though the group was formed in the early 2000s, it was most active at the advent of the 2010s. After a 5-year silence, Anonymous resurfaced online. They engaged in the Black Lives Matter protest. They threatened the police department responsible for the brutality.
Anonymous calls itself the Legion. In their language, we are Anonymous. We represent freedom, oppose oppression, and are simply an evolution of the technological system. Where liberty is at risk, expect us.
How does Anonymous function?
In the style of Guy Fawkes masks, members of Anonymous dress in a distinctive manner. The graphic novel and film V for Vendetta popularized this style. These members are known as “anons.” They work in a decentralized manner. They often target the government organizations of various countries and the church of Scientology if they smell slightly fishy. They are more competent individuals who can sneak into any network and collect data. They understand how the internet operates. Many Anonymous members are active on the darknet. Former Anonymous hackers often work as private security consultants. Others become government contractors.
How hackers operate in sync to carry out massive hacks remains unknown. They may be citizens of different countries. Still, they developed a similar ideology of defending online freedom of speech. As the group interacts with the media to spread their principles, they wear masks with paired-up hoodies. Their voices are altered using various computer-synthesis techniques, so the hackers’ real identities are not revealed. Shrouded by mask covers, these intelligent groups of people can damage an entire country or government. They are more effective than the whole army with modern weapons. In the digitalized world, the work done by Anonymous is controversial and essential to creating balance.
Anonymous- on the radar?
The FBI, CIA, and other security agencies consider Anonymous a security threat for several reasons. Many consider Anonymous the free saviors of internet freedom and advocates of free expression, and they regard them as heroes. Understandably so, considering Anonymous openly supported WikiLeaks and had earlier targeted companies like Mastercard and PayPal.
The recent targeting of Tesla CEO Elon Musk didn’t go well for the Anonymous group. The Anonymous group called the SpaceX maverick narcissistic. They criticized him for influencing the cryptocurrency market. As a result, the group was mocked with a meme. Elon Musk hilariously called the meme “Hannah Montana is Miley Cyrus.” It will be interesting to see how the hacker group responds to Elon Musk’s meme derision.
Anonymous- in the world order?
In the past, an Anonymous group has also carried out many high-profile hacks that affected the country’s functioning. In Tunisia, the group played a crucial role in removing the autocratic leader. They defaced many government portals. The group also provided technology to the rebel leaders. These actions ultimately helped to oust the ruler. The list of hacks continues to grow.
Discussing the implications of such activity in the world order is imperative. Many influential world leaders are rumored to be members of secret societies. This has not been proven. That group decides the world order. A significant amount of wealth and power is concentrated in the hands of a few individuals. They use internet censorship to advance their agenda. The emergence of the Anonymous group signals a new era of internet activism. It prioritizes the freedom of information above all else. The modus operandi is questionable due to its illegality, but the intent is generally good.
In some cases, the group is held responsible for the death of some individuals. They are also blamed for breaching the criminal justice system. The group has remained unfazed
Many non-believers find the knowledgeable group shrouded in masks telling the world, “We are Anonymous,” to be fictional. But they are authentic, for sure. Someday, we can see the unmasked geniuses! Let them mask up and sneak sensitive information to innocent citizens about the surveillance world they live in.
The Witty Stride 