Pro-WikiLeaks cyber army gains strength; thousands join DDoS attacks

[Joanne98]

Source: Computerworld

Computerworld - The retaliatory attacks by pro-WikiLeaks activists are growing in strength as hackers add botnets and thousands of people download an open-source attack tool, security researchers said today.

In recent days, distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks have been launched against several sites, including those belonging to Amazon, MasterCard, PayPal and the Swiss payment transaction firm PostFinance, after each terminated WikiLeaks accounts or pulled the plug on services.

The open-source tool, which is sometimes classified as a legitimate network- and firewall-stress testing utility, is being downloaded at the rate of about 1,000 copies per hour, said Tal Be'ery, the Web research team lead at Imperva's Application Defense Center.

"Downloads have soared in the last two days," said Be'ery in an interview. As of 4 p.m. ET, more than 44,000 copies of LOIC had been downloaded from GitHub.



Read more: http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9200659/Pro_WikiLeaks_cyber_army_gains_strength_thousands_join_DDoS_attacks?taxonomyId=82

[yourout]

1. Really stirred up the Hornets nest haven't they.

[goforit]

4. And I do believe they will be stung.

[karnac]

10. sometimes those that will be hurt by an action

will BENEFIT from an opposite action by the opposition done tOO early.

so they will be prepared....


this was way too early.


the right should thank assange....................

[movonne]

12. I hope not...these are the people that give me some hope for a

future..also the students in England...it may never work but at lease I feel like someone is doing something before we all become enslaved...

[truthisfreedom]

2. A legion of nerds.

You can't make this shit up.

[goforit]

5. The image is hilarious!

[GodlessBiker]

7. Their bootcamp was endless hours playing video games. Now they are powerful.

[Jamastiene]

19. Be still my beating heart! n/t

[PDJane]

3. Had figured that would happen.....

That Pandora's box has already been opened, and there's no trying to get the secrecy thing back. Did the US think they were the only ones with the tools to spy?

[Fearless]

6. And the harder the gov't squeezes the more this will occur.

If they wanted the best possible outcome for themselves they should've just left wikileaks alone. But... as per usual... they start an Internet arms race.

[slay]

8. Good for them!

if we don't fight back against corrupt power we might as well admit defeat. No matter what *some* people might say.

[PufPuf23]

9. One wonders USCYBERCOM's response and involvement

USCYBERCOM went fully operational October 31, 2010. The timing of WikiLeaks is interesting. The monopoliztion of the internet and USCYBERCOM were part of the PNAC's Redefining America's Defenses for the 21st Century (2000).

From wiki:

Current commander General Keith B. Alexander, USA

The United States Cyber Command (USCYBERCOM) is a United States armed forces sub-unified command subordinate to United States Strategic Command. The command was officially activated May 21, 2010, at Fort Meade, Maryland<1> and reached Full Operational Capability on October 31, 2010.<2> The command is led by National Security Agency/Central Security Service Director General Keith B. Alexander.<3> The command assumes responsibility for several existing organizations. The Joint Task Force for Global Network Operations (JTF-GNO) and the Joint Functional Component Command for Network Warfare (JFCC-NW) are replaced by this new command. The Defense Information Systems Agency, where JTF-GNO now operates, provides technical assistance for network and information assurance to CYBERCOM, and is moving its headquarters to Ft. Meade.

More at:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Cyber_Command

[rhett o rick]

11. How can we contact these corporations to "Help them" by telling our griefs?

[bvar22]

13. Cyber Warriors:

I used to laugh at the above cartoon ridiculing basement Cyber Warriors.

NOW, I HONOR it!

Yo GO, Cyber Warriors.
The NEW Front Line.
:patriot:

[ChaoticSilly]

14. The revolution will not be televised...

...it will be on Youtube.

:evilgrin:

[NYMdaveNYI]

18. The Cyber Revolution. nt

[Matilda]

20. Nice!

n/t

[struggle4progress]

15. How would folk here feel if a DDoS were launched against DU?

[EFerrari]

16. Do you think DU would collaborate to persecute whistle blowers?

Really?

[Tunkamerica]

ignore. my mouse tends to double click

[Jamastiene]

21. My wireless mouse started doing that.

I adjusted my speed settings for double clicking, cleaned the mouse, reinstalled the mouse and finally gave up. I never could make it stop doing that. Made it impossible to play video games on the computer.

[Tunkamerica]

23. it just started a few days ago, i hope it doesn't get as bad as that

[Tunkamerica]

17. some of DU definitely. at 2 or 3 per thread on this story

[Jamastiene]

22. There are definitely some here on DU who would.

Most would not, but some would.

[bvar22]

25. A small minority at DU would,

.....and they are very LOUD.

If Obama does it....it MUST be GOOD!

President Obama's War on Whistleblowers
http://criminaljustice.change.org/blog/view/president_obamas_war_on_whistleblowers

[Odin2005]

24. The PTB have crossed the line and are about to pay for it.