January 20, 2012 10:54 AM

Megaupload Anonymous hacker retaliation, nobody wins

By
Chenda Ngak
Topics
Tech Talk

(Credit: Anonymous)
(CBS) - The week began on a high note for Internet activists. The biggest organized effort to blackout websites in solidarity over the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and Protect IP Act (PIPA) was a huge success.

But, every buzz has its hangover and this one was served up by the Federal Bureau of Investigations, when they took down online file storage site Megaupload Thursday. While the move was shocking on the heels of an Internet love-fest, it wasn't surprising. And, the events that followed exacerbated the issue.

Full coverage of SOPA, PIPA at Tech Talk
SOPA and PIPA Internet blackout aftermath, staggering numbers
SOPA and PIPA bills continue to lose supporters

Hacking group Anonymous retaliated after Megaupload was taken down by launching denial of service attacks on the websites of the U.S. Department of Justice, FBI, Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) and Recording Industry Association of American (RIAA), among others.

CNET executive editor Molly Wood hit the nail on the head when she said, "an attack this big on this many government sites will effectively erase those good Internet vibrations that were rattling around Capitol Hill this week and harden the perspective of legislators and law enforcement who want to believe that the Web community is made up of wild, law-breaking pirates."

Feds bust one of world's biggest file-sharing sites
Justice Dept. website shut down in apparent hack
Payback: Hackers down DOJ, Universal Music sites

The effort put forth by millions of activists on Wednesday wasn't about promoting piracy. It was about asking Congress to write a better bill to protect intellectual property. Anonymous' latest hacking spree changed the conversation.

Thanks a lot, Anonymous. This is why we can't have nice things.

Wood's sources allege the Megaupload arrests were bait for more nefarious Internet dwellers. And it could not have worked better.

So, what did we get out of Anonymous' latest attack? MPAA chief executive officer Chris Dodd's home address and the take-down of websites that nobody visits - no offense. What a worthy reward for effectively killing the momentum of Wednesday's protests.

On Jan. 18 websites like Wikipedia and Reddit staged a blackout of their sites to protest SOPA and PIPA. Google joined the protest by blacking out their famous logo for a day. A count by the organization Fight for the Future placed the number of sites participating at 115,000. The aftermath of the Internet blackout resulted in countless politicians backpedaling on their support of the bills.

The FBI arrested four people connected to Hong King-based website Megaupload on Jan. 19. The site let users download films, TV shows, games and music for free, making a profit from advertising and subscriptions for faster download speeds.

17 Photos

Websites go dark to protest SOPA

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Add a Comment See all 35 Comments
by Lack_of_Freedom January 25, 2012 5:04 AM EST
CBS supports the Congressional blowhards in their efforts to further erode our freedoms and liberties. We will not stand idle and allow this blatant infringement on our rights. It's called WORLD WIDE WEB for a reason. Nobody should have control over it.

Furthermore, the US Government has no right to prevent us from viewing foreign websites regardless of their content. That is what they aim to do with those so called bills. It's not about piracy at all. It's all about control.

REVOLUTION!
Reply to this comment
by CBS_HYPOCRITES January 23, 2012 1:50 AM EST
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WlODUV8OQwI

CBS and every company which endorsed and DESIGNED SOPA are hypocrites
this video clearly illustrates that
Reply to this comment
by Luna-Azul January 22, 2012 12:16 AM EST
The net-world "retaliation" seems to be going much further than Anonymous ciberactivism. With no official advise, some files sharing sites are blocking US visitors. Us visitors only get the message "Not Available: Our service is currently unavailable in your country. Sorry about that."
Now US users have to use foreign IP's. As said in a comment, the message should have been "Our service currently requires you to use an out-of-country proxy. Your government is run by scumbags. Sorry about that."
Reply to this comment
by DrGlennStephens January 21, 2012 9:43 PM EST
This op ed piece begins on a low note, with a typo in the first sentence. "The week began on a high note for Internet activist."
I think the "activist" needs a "s" (plural).

Other than bad English, the content is off factually. The high note wasn't at the beginning of the week, SOPA-PIPA were in their death throes late in the week.

And to the extent that I can discern the author's point, it seems to be that Anonymous' hack of FBI, DoJ and White House websites will destroy the gains made earlier in the weak.

I doubt that. If anything the nasty event that precipitated those hacks by Anonymous - the raid in Megaupload - reinforces not only why SOPA and PIPA needed to die, but the ongoing problem of out of control law enforcement, military, espionage, and other security apparatuses arbitratily targeting particular groups or individuals for harassment.

The Megaupload raids were in essence, the US and other governments, giving the finger to all those who stopped SOPA-PIPA.

Anonymous simply returned the favor and gave DoJ, FBI, the Executive branch, and various 1% special interests, like MPAA.

It gave them the finger back.

Bravo.

PS - I may be wrong but doesn't CBS have motion picture, video, television, and music interests that may be the reason for this piece of hack journalism?
Reply to this comment
by ToolMangler1 January 22, 2012 8:52 PM EST
So if somebody 'pirates' the property of some one else and gives it away online for free, "The Hackers like that" but if the Government says "That is illegal" and shuts down the offending sites. The Hackers hijack your computer to send "DOS" attacks and hampers people trying to access a "Public Govmnt website" and leaves 'you' with the finger pointing at you because it was your computer that was used. That's Ok with you???? OKAY!!!! Let's give away all movies and Music for free and shut down the Recording and TV/Movie industry. That way the Pirates will not have any product to sell, (Yeah!!! you still have to buy it one way or the other) TANSTAAFL!!! This way China gets 'your' money, not the USA!
by Delafina January 21, 2012 8:54 PM EST
"The week began on a high note for Internet activist"?

"While the move was shocking on the heels of an Internet love-fest, it wasn't surprising"?

Doesn't CBS hire native English speakers to write their articles anymore?
Reply to this comment
by TakebackCalif January 21, 2012 3:25 PM EST
No doubt CBS will also be doing the government's PR when they declare matial law and start arresting and indefinitely detaining American citizens in re-education camps without benefit of a trial.

Thank you, oh Ministry of Truth for showing Anon the error of their ways.
Reply to this comment
by satireknight January 21, 2012 11:43 AM EST
What good Internet vibes? The government was massively butthurt because the voters DARED to make their voices heard, and the voters are still anticipating more attacks on liberty by the government. Like, say the megaupload arrests. The government lashed out to try to scare the people into submission, and only made them angrier.

Just shut up, CBS. More people like Anonymous than they like the government, or their mouthpieces (ie you). Lots of people are on your side. Nobody is on the government/MAFIAA's side except their mommies.
Reply to this comment
by 4allya January 21, 2012 11:09 PM EST
Agreed, Anonymous fights for the little guy and the government fights for the rich...
by Austin_Hoffman January 21, 2012 8:41 AM EST
THEY DESERVE IT!! it's all BS...MU arrest was unfair + I don't think swizz he has any legal connections to MU...imo it was all fabbed up to get other celebrity endorsements.

p.s. looks like someone is pissed - FBI vs ANONYMOUS video:
http://www.peeje.com/anonymous-hackers-we-legion-211/
Reply to this comment
by OldWiseAlien January 21, 2012 7:12 AM EST
Anonymous, Is ok in my book... Now if we just had a way to know each and every vote is counted correctly...
Reply to this comment
by Suppozo January 21, 2012 12:36 AM EST
Not an ***** or anything, but this kinda shinanaganz needs to be stopped somehow. If it requires a random hacking group and a bit of sleezy tactics with links to click then so be it.

i already dont even agree with people being able to look up our IP addresses in general. much less the ability to subpeona them from our search providers.
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