Anonymous Targets Facebook, IBM, Intel and AT&T in Operation Defense Phase II

[Adrean]

Anonymous urged members to launch Distributed Denial of Service attack against Intel, but its website appeared to be still online

The Anonymous hacking collective has pledged to bring down the website of Intel in protest at an anti-piracy bill that would permit the US government to strengthen security networks against cyber-attacks.

Anonymous called its members to launch a Distributed Denial of Service attack against the computer firm, but the company's website appeared to be still online.

With a video posted on YouTube, the collective announced Phase Two of Operation Defense, an initiative to fight the proposed Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act (Cispa), which has already drawn criticism from advocates of internet privacy and security experts.

"Phase I of Operation Defense is running smoothly," says the video. "We've managed to disable most of our targets. Our targets include any corporation involved in the support of the Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act and those who were responsible in creating it."

Boeing was among the companies targetedin Phase I.

According to the collective, Phase II will start in two weeks and will include demonstrations in the streets.

"Attacks will not be limited to Distributed Denial of Service attacks," says the video. "Phase II will commence on May 1 and will include coordinated physical protests outside locations belonging to the corporations."

Intel is one of the 30 private companies that have backed Cispa, which will enable businesses and the government to more easily share cyber-security information. Critics claim that the legislation contains few restraints on how and when the government may monitor private information, and that it may be likely to damage file sharers rather than foreign spies or hackers.

The list includes tech and IT companies such as Edison Electric, Microsoft, Facebook, IBM, US Telecom, Verizon Wireless and Symantec as well as communications and phone firms and associations such as the National Cable & Telecommunications Association, AT&T and Comptel.

"This so-called cyber-security bill aims to prevent theft of 'government information' and 'intellectual property' and could let ISPs block your access to a website - or the whole internet," civil rights organisation Demand Progress said.

"Cispa also encourages companies to share information about you with the government and other corporations.

"That data could then be used for just about anything - from prosecuting crimes to ad placements. And perhaps worst of all, Cispa supersedes all existing online privacy protections."

Cyber-activists fear the law would be as pernicious as Sopa, the Stop Online Privacy Act, which was withdrawn by the White House and the US Senate after a mass protest by hundreds of major user-generated content websites.

"Cispa is likely to lead to expansion of the government's role in the monitoring of private communications," said the Centre for Democracy and Technology.

"Cispa is likely to shift control of government cyber-security efforts from civilian agencies to the military. Once the information is shared with the government, it wouldn't have to be used for cyber-security but for other purposes."

Anonymous had previously attacked two technology firm associations for supporting Cispa. TechAmerica and US Telecom confirmed they were targeted with a Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) assault by the collective.

"By launching a cyber-attack in an effort to coerce, intimidate and stifle speech, members of Anonymous are acting contrary to the very freedoms and internet norms that they espouse," Walter McCormick, president of US Telecom, told Bloomberg.

Shawn Osborne, TechAmerica's president, said: "These types of strong-arm tactics have no place in the critical discussions our country needs to be having about our cyber-security, they just underscore the importance of them."

For further news on Anonymous's recent activities, check out the IBTimes UK Cyber Warfare section.

http://youtu.be/45FoVOs42fU

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[Adrean]

Anonymous Targeting Intel, Facebook, More Over CISPA

Anonymous is currently conducting a two-stage attack on businesses and advocacy groups supporting the Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act (CISPA).

On Thursday, Anonymous uploaded a new video on YouTube announcing that it plans to attack AT&T, Facebook, IBM, Intel, Microsoft and numerous others who are openly supporting the Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act (CISPA). The attack will begin on May 1 and consist of not only the typical DDoS assault, but of coordinated physical protests outside locations belonging to the thirty corporations on its list.

Essentially the proposed law will allow corporations and the government to share cyber-security information between each other more easily. More specifically, it would give the government "additional options and resources to ensure the security of networks against attacks and enforce copyright and patents." It's actually an amendment to the National Security Act of 1947 which currently does not contain provisions pertaining to cybercrime.

According to a draft generated back in November (pdf), the bill adds provisions to the Act describing cyberthreat as a "vulnerability of, or threat to, a system or network of a government or private entity, including information pertaining to the protection of a system or network from either 'efforts to degrade, disrupt, or destroy such system or network'; or 'theft or misappropriation of private or government information, intellectual property, or personally identifiable information."

But privacy advocates are already comparing the bill to SOPA and PIPA which is currently on hold after a public lashing by the American people.

"This so-called cyber-security bill aims to prevent theft of 'government information' and 'intellectual property' and could let ISPs block your access to a website - or the whole internet," civil rights organization Demand Progress reports. "CISPA also encourages companies to share information about you with the government and other corporations. That data could then be used for just about anything - from prosecuting crimes to ad placements. And perhaps worst of all, CISPA supersedes all existing online privacy protections."

The Center for Democracy and Technology says the proposed law could lead to the expansion of the government's role in the monitoring of private communications. "CISPA is likely to shift control of government cyber-security efforts from civilian agencies to the military. Once the information is shared with the government, it wouldn't have to be used for cyber-security but for other purposes," the organization states.

The mass assault planned for May 1 won't be the first time Anonymous has attacked supporters of CISPA. As part of Operation Defense Phase I, both TechAmerica and US Telecom have confirmed that they suffered a DDoS assault by the hactivist group. Boeing was also attacked and down for the count for two hours along with a number of other CISPA supporters on the group's list of thirty targets. The attack commencing on May 1 will be Phase II of Operation Defense.

"Phase I of Operation Defense is running smoothly," Anonymous reports. "We've managed to disable most of our targets. Our targets include any corporation involved in the support of The Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act and those who were responsible in creating it."

There are currently 800+ companies supporting the CISPA bill either directly or indirectly, as reported here by DigitalTrends. These include the CTIA - The Wireless Association, the United States Chamber of Commerce, the National Cable & Telecommunications Association and more.

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