Anonymous is up to something again.
October 10, 2011 1:01 PM Subscribe
Anonymous (or parts of Anonymous) want to hack the NYSE today. Anonymous is recruiting for an action against the New York Stock Exchange. ABC news reported that the threats started last week and other sources are indicating that Anonymous itself has been hacked. Investors don't seem to be worried.
Actually, there's some debate about whether this really is from "Anonymous" or whether it's from someone anonymously claiming to be Anonymous.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 1:05 PM on October 10, 2011 [3 favorites]
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 1:05 PM on October 10, 2011 [3 favorites]
The DOW closed up 330 today. If Anonymous did that, they can hack my DOW any day they damned well want! ;)
posted by pla at 1:06 PM on October 10, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by pla at 1:06 PM on October 10, 2011 [1 favorite]
I definitely think we're getting to the stage where provocateurs will be set in motion to discredit the movement.
posted by desjardins at 1:08 PM on October 10, 2011 [10 favorites]
posted by desjardins at 1:08 PM on October 10, 2011 [10 favorites]
Anonymous was never a solid entity to begin with. Even if this is coming from the same Anonymous, it couldn't be coming from the Official Headquarters of Anonymous, because there never was one.
The only difference between Anonymous and anonymous is a capital A.
posted by Sys Rq at 1:09 PM on October 10, 2011 [6 favorites]
The only difference between Anonymous and anonymous is a capital A.
posted by Sys Rq at 1:09 PM on October 10, 2011 [6 favorites]
Anonymous anonymous anonymous "Anonymous" Anonymous "anonymous".
posted by kmz at 1:12 PM on October 10, 2011 [6 favorites]
posted by kmz at 1:12 PM on October 10, 2011 [6 favorites]
Meanwhile, nihilist punk teens from 80s revenge movies are roughing up old ladies in the streets.
posted by theodolite at 1:12 PM on October 10, 2011 [10 favorites]
posted by theodolite at 1:12 PM on October 10, 2011 [10 favorites]
Buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo.
posted by scrowdid at 1:17 PM on October 10, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by scrowdid at 1:17 PM on October 10, 2011 [2 favorites]
The media still doesn't get how Anonymous works, do they?
posted by nathancaswell at 1:22 PM on October 10, 2011 [5 favorites]
posted by nathancaswell at 1:22 PM on October 10, 2011 [5 favorites]
This does really sort of point to a major problem most people have with understanding the Anonymous idea/ideal: there isn't a single Anonymous and there never has been, and as such, speaking of it as a single organization is always problematic. However, most people don't understand the idea of decentralized, authority-less functional entities that lack a single mindset, goal set, or rules. As such they WANT this to be some CHAOS style organization, because it is the only way they can understand it.
posted by strixus at 1:22 PM on October 10, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by strixus at 1:22 PM on October 10, 2011 [2 favorites]
My take is it's someone trying to undermine OWS. I dropped a link to this analysis in the open Anonymous thread but I'll repost it here again.
posted by stagewhisper at 1:24 PM on October 10, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by stagewhisper at 1:24 PM on October 10, 2011 [1 favorite]
Anonymous Anonymous Buffalo buffalo anonymous Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo anonymous Anonymous Buffalo buffalo.
posted by wanderingmind at 1:24 PM on October 10, 2011 [5 favorites]
posted by wanderingmind at 1:24 PM on October 10, 2011 [5 favorites]
As such they WANT this to be some CHAOS style organization, because it is the only way they can understand it.
Something, something, cone of silence.
posted by Sys Rq at 1:26 PM on October 10, 2011 [2 favorites]
Something, something, cone of silence.
posted by Sys Rq at 1:26 PM on October 10, 2011 [2 favorites]
I definitely think we're getting to the stage where provocateurs will be set in motion to discredit the movement. Already happening
posted by adamvasco at 1:28 PM on October 10, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by adamvasco at 1:28 PM on October 10, 2011 [1 favorite]
The media still doesn't get how Anonymous works, do they?
I'm quite convinced that the media thinks Anonymous is run by Dr. Claw and every time something "bad" happens to Anonymous that Dr. Claw slams his fist down and scares his cat.
posted by Mister Fabulous at 1:32 PM on October 10, 2011 [13 favorites]
I'm quite convinced that the media thinks Anonymous is run by Dr. Claw and every time something "bad" happens to Anonymous that Dr. Claw slams his fist down and scares his cat.
posted by Mister Fabulous at 1:32 PM on October 10, 2011 [13 favorites]
Rraawrr!
posted by swift at 1:33 PM on October 10, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by swift at 1:33 PM on October 10, 2011 [1 favorite]
The media still doesn't get how Anonymous works, do they?
Did you say "get" when you meant "care?"
posted by phearlez at 1:35 PM on October 10, 2011 [2 favorites]
Did you say "get" when you meant "care?"
posted by phearlez at 1:35 PM on October 10, 2011 [2 favorites]
Anonymous was never a solid entity to begin with.
See also.
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 1:40 PM on October 10, 2011 [2 favorites]
See also.
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 1:40 PM on October 10, 2011 [2 favorites]
Well Anonymous and OWS have the same "problem", they are leaderless movements where anyone and no one can claim to speak for them.
This is both an asset and a weakness, but in mainstream media it's mostly just a weakness because any random person claiming to speak for them gets taken seriously and can change the perception of the whole movement.
posted by wildcrdj at 1:51 PM on October 10, 2011 [2 favorites]
This is both an asset and a weakness, but in mainstream media it's mostly just a weakness because any random person claiming to speak for them gets taken seriously and can change the perception of the whole movement.
posted by wildcrdj at 1:51 PM on October 10, 2011 [2 favorites]
DDoSing their website won't be a big deal. DDosing the process servers or getting a concerted fat finger trade going would be much more appropriate for the vaguely techno-dystopian novel this seems like it came out of. My question is, what kind of damage would a day without a stock exchange actually do?
posted by JackarypQQ at 1:53 PM on October 10, 2011
posted by JackarypQQ at 1:53 PM on October 10, 2011
I definitely think we're getting to the stage where provocateurs will be set in motion to discredit the movement.
As if their past actions of attacking the credit card companies that small businesses rely on wasn't enough to discredit the movement. It doesn't take much to agent provacatuers to discredit the movement. "Gee, anarchic computer hackers with a history of malicious attacks on companies call for protest against NYSE." Assuming (a long stretch) that Anon. isn't responsible, haven't they set themselves up for this?
I think these protestors are doing good. Why get stupid now?
posted by Ironmouth at 1:56 PM on October 10, 2011
As if their past actions of attacking the credit card companies that small businesses rely on wasn't enough to discredit the movement. It doesn't take much to agent provacatuers to discredit the movement. "Gee, anarchic computer hackers with a history of malicious attacks on companies call for protest against NYSE." Assuming (a long stretch) that Anon. isn't responsible, haven't they set themselves up for this?
I think these protestors are doing good. Why get stupid now?
posted by Ironmouth at 1:56 PM on October 10, 2011
Just fyi, there are accepted trading strategies that consist of essentially running denial of service attacks against the exchange. If any 'anonymous' individual achieves any success against the NYSE, they will immediately be located and offered employment by some high frequency trading outfit. There are an awful lot of high six figure salaries saying this'll never happen folks.
posted by jeffburdges at 1:57 PM on October 10, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by jeffburdges at 1:57 PM on October 10, 2011 [1 favorite]
However, most people don't understand the idea of decentralized, authority-less functional entities that lack a single mindset, goal set, or rules.
If your task is to convince the American voter that we need economic justice, you better start get understood now.
And they attacked credit-card companies. That's illegal. They attacked Talking Points Memo for reporting on the arrests of their members. Where's the part where they are being helpful.
posted by Ironmouth at 2:00 PM on October 10, 2011
If your task is to convince the American voter that we need economic justice, you better start get understood now.
And they attacked credit-card companies. That's illegal. They attacked Talking Points Memo for reporting on the arrests of their members. Where's the part where they are being helpful.
posted by Ironmouth at 2:00 PM on October 10, 2011
Just fyi, there are accepted trading strategies that consist of essentially running denial of service attacks against the exchange.
I'd love to take a look at what you have on that.
posted by Ironmouth at 2:03 PM on October 10, 2011 [1 favorite]
I'd love to take a look at what you have on that.
posted by Ironmouth at 2:03 PM on October 10, 2011 [1 favorite]
They should go and fill the audience on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon and just sit in steely silence the whole time.
posted by Sys Rq at 2:05 PM on October 10, 2011 [4 favorites]
posted by Sys Rq at 2:05 PM on October 10, 2011 [4 favorites]
I think OWS is going to end up clearly distancing themselves from Anonymous. I've seen it happen before, where radical members of a leaderless, consensus-based protest group cause a bunch of infighting. They weren't provocateurs and they weren't doing anything illegal (beyond pasting flyers and chalking sidewalks), but the group sort of imploded.
In a weird way the debates about OWS' public image reminds me of gay pride - "we shouldn't dress like drag queens, they won't respect us," "we shouldn't let Queer Nation march, they're too radical" (I'm dating myself now).
posted by desjardins at 2:10 PM on October 10, 2011 [2 favorites]
In a weird way the debates about OWS' public image reminds me of gay pride - "we shouldn't dress like drag queens, they won't respect us," "we shouldn't let Queer Nation march, they're too radical" (I'm dating myself now).
posted by desjardins at 2:10 PM on October 10, 2011 [2 favorites]
Confusing the media was kind of the point of Anonymous to begin with. Since it's not an organization, and it's only a "movement" in the sense that an epileptic seizure is a "movement," the only reason to refer to anonymous actions as Anonymous is to give the impression that there is a Higher Power At Work. This impression may be helpful in getting your work noticed.
posted by LogicalDash at 3:08 PM on October 10, 2011
posted by LogicalDash at 3:08 PM on October 10, 2011
Speaking of provocateurs, there's been a James O'Keefe sighting at OWS.
posted by desjardins at 3:54 PM on October 10, 2011 [4 favorites]
posted by desjardins at 3:54 PM on October 10, 2011 [4 favorites]
Speaking of provocateurs, there's been a James O'Keefe sighting at OWS.
Claims it was ok'd by his parole officer.
posted by Ironmouth at 4:07 PM on October 10, 2011
Claims it was ok'd by his parole officer.
posted by Ironmouth at 4:07 PM on October 10, 2011
When will anonymous face our real enemy, Jamster and their deplorable commercials and business model?
posted by mccarty.tim at 4:14 PM on October 10, 2011
posted by mccarty.tim at 4:14 PM on October 10, 2011
So, nothing happened right? This seems like poorly planned propaganda more than an actual mission statement, but I can't figure out for whom.
In the cyberpunk novel version of this I'd like to see Anonymous use its massive botnet to trawl various data dumps of compromised user data, correlate a username and password against the sys-admin at a hedge fund that uses high frequency trading systems, and use their login data to spike the market with high volume trades.
The IRL version is a little bit less interesting.
posted by codacorolla at 4:18 PM on October 10, 2011 [1 favorite]
In the cyberpunk novel version of this I'd like to see Anonymous use its massive botnet to trawl various data dumps of compromised user data, correlate a username and password against the sys-admin at a hedge fund that uses high frequency trading systems, and use their login data to spike the market with high volume trades.
The IRL version is a little bit less interesting.
posted by codacorolla at 4:18 PM on October 10, 2011 [1 favorite]
Oh, something did happen... maybe... and sort of.
posted by codacorolla at 4:23 PM on October 10, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by codacorolla at 4:23 PM on October 10, 2011 [1 favorite]
This will certainly pump up the stocks of cyber security firms.
posted by sswiller at 5:45 PM on October 10, 2011
posted by sswiller at 5:45 PM on October 10, 2011
Actually, there's some debate about whether this really is from "Anonymous" or whether it's from someone anonymously claiming to be Anonymous.
Anyone who says they are Anonymous are Anonymous. There is no "real" anonymous.
Also, since I feel the need to reiterate every time I see it --
denial of service attacks aren't hacking. denial of service attacks are bullshit.
posted by to sir with millipedes at 9:58 PM on October 10, 2011 [1 favorite]
Anyone who says they are Anonymous are Anonymous. There is no "real" anonymous.
Also, since I feel the need to reiterate every time I see it --
denial of service attacks aren't hacking. denial of service attacks are bullshit.
posted by to sir with millipedes at 9:58 PM on October 10, 2011 [1 favorite]
Given that pictures of O'Keefe have turned up at OWS, I think we can safely say "yes, they're moving to discredit it already."
posted by Archelaus at 10:48 PM on October 10, 2011
posted by Archelaus at 10:48 PM on October 10, 2011
Anonymous temporarily removes one thumbtack the NYSE had holding up a poster.
posted by jeffburdges at 11:44 PM on October 10, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by jeffburdges at 11:44 PM on October 10, 2011 [2 favorites]
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