What is hacktivism?
Hacktivism is a social or political act that involves hacking into and disrupting a secure computer system. According to Cult of the Dead Cow, hacktivism combines “hacking” and “activism.”
Understanding Hacktivism
Hacktivism attacks corporations and governments. Hacktivists commit hacktivism. Hacktivists attack religious groups, terrorists, drug traffickers, and pedophiles.
One type of hacktivism is a denial-of-service attack (DoS) that turns off a system to deny consumers access. Other instances include giving individuals access to government-censored websites or giving endangered groups privacy-protected communication (like Syrians during the Arab Spring).
Hacktivists use various methods, such as DDoS attacks, data theft, website defacement, computer viruses, social media account takeovers, and confidential data theft.
Hacktivists disagree on proper methods and may advocate free expression, but DoS assaults, website defacements, and data theft may conflict with that purpose.
Hacktivism is unlawful and criminal. Law enforcement seldom investigates them, so they rarely face charges. Law enforcement has trouble identifying hackers, and losses are usually minimal.
Hacktivism may provoke violence but does not injure demonstrators like street protests, and hacktivism lets people with similar interests gather and help faraway causes without traveling there.
Hacktivism can replace or supplement sit-ins and protest marches. Occupy Wall Street and Church of Scientology protests included internet and street-based activity.
Types of Hacktivism
Hacktivists employ several methods to achieve their aims. Actions may include:
- Hackers use doxing to obtain sensitive information about a person or organization and release it to the world.
- Anonymous blogging is prevalent among whistleblowers, journalists, and activists to raise awareness of issues while maintaining privacy.
- DoS and DDoS assaults can overwhelm targeted computer systems or networks, preventing users from accessing them.
- A leak occurs when an insider with access to sensitive or secret material reveals it to the public, implicating a specific person or organization.
- Website replication involves mirroring a genuine website with an alternative URL to bypass restrictions.
Hacktivist Goals
Goals of hacktivism include:
- Helping civilians bypass national firewalls or coordinate protests online circumvents official censorship.
- Promoting human rights and assisting oppressed citizens using social media
- Taking down government websites that threaten political activists
- Online, free speech protection
- Promoting information access
- Supporting citizen uprisings
- We provide computer users with private and anonymous networks like Tor and Signal to safeguard privacy and evade spying.
- Corporate or government power disruption
- Ensuring illegal immigrants cross borders securely
- Supporting democracy
- Opposing globalization and capitalism
- Protesting war
- Stopping terrorism funding
Hacktivist Groups
Some of the most famous hacktivist groups from the 1990s to the present include Cult of the Dead Cow, Hacktivismo, Lulz Security (Lulz Sec), Anonymous, Legion of Doom, The Electronic Disturbance Theater, Young Intelligent Hackers Against Terrorism, Syrian Electronic Army, and AnonGhost.
Let’s briefly examine some important hacktivist organizations.
Anonymous
One of the most famous hacktivist groups, Anonymous, is notorious for its cyberattacks against governments, companies, and even the Church of Scientology.
Doom Legion
After its 1984 founding, Legion of Doom became one of the most influential hacking groups. The organization is well known for the Hacker Manifesto, which inspired a generation of hackers.
MOD Masters of Deception
The New York-based Masters of Deception (MOD) is recognized for hacking and manipulating several telephone providers. The 1992 federal indictment included all members.
Chaos Computer Club
The Chaos Computer Club is Europe’s largest hacking group, with 5,500 members. The Chaos Computer Club supports government transparency and openness.
Preventing Hacktivism
Consider these hacktivism prevention steps:
- List and identify any critical or sensitive data in your environment.
- Regularly audit your environment.
- Log-in websites should use multi-factor authentication.
- Buy security software or a firewall.
- Train personnel and contractors/vendors on data storage, management, and destruction.
- Respond to attacks using processes and policies.
Hacktivism in Real Life
When Julian Assange, creator of WikiLeaks, exposed Hillary Clinton and her campaign manager’s emails, it became a renowned example of hacktivism.
According to reports, Russian hackers sent the emails to help Donald Trump win the election.
The leaks hurt Clinton’s campaign, and many blamed them for her loss. After the email attacks, the DOJ accused 12 Russian hackers.
WikiLeaks defends free speech and media dissemination, improves history, and supports people’s ability to create new history.
Conclusion
- Hacktivism includes hacking a computer system to harm a person or group.
- Targets include drug traffickers, pedophiles, and religious groups.
- Along with in-person rallies, Occupy Wall Street and Church of Scientology militants utilize hacktivism.
- Hacktivists utilize doxing, DoS assaults, anonymous blogging, information dumps, and website replication.
- Hacktivism promotes human rights on social media and helps individuals bypass national firewalls or organize protests to overcome government censorship.
- Anonymous, Legion of Doom, MOD, and Chaos Computer Club are well-known hacktivist groups.
