hackers

How Your Bullshit Anonymous Hacking Threats Get Made

Adrian Chen · 11/07/11 02:24PM

Each day seems to bring a new video from the hacktivist collective Anonymous threatening some spectacular attack, then everyone freaks out. This week, Anonymous is threatening to disrupt the Iowa Caucuses. After a month of fake Anonymous scares, we call bullshit.

We Are Legion: The Story of the Hacktivists: Or, 101 Guy Fawkeses

Lauri Apple · 11/06/11 12:22PM

Here's the trailer for We Are Legion, a documentary featuring members and supporters of the Anonymous hacker collective and various commentators whose names and titles aren't provided yet, so we don't know who they are. But they seem knowledgeable enough!

Exciting-Sounding 'Cyber Prison Breaks' Worrying the Feds

Lauri Apple · 11/05/11 05:12PM

Trying to capture a single escaped prisoner usually requires a coordinated effort by law enforcement, tips from the public, and sometimes a superhero or two. So just imagine the chaos that would ensue if thousands of inmates were suddenly released from their cells. Logistical nightmare in ALL-CAPS.

It Pays to Be the Face of Anonymous

Adrian Chen · 11/04/11 05:47PM

Barrett Brown, the "Face" of Anonymous, has had a busy week, promoting the hacktivist collective's extremely-confusing war against the notorious Zetas drug cartel in every outlet from CNN to Gawker. But a six-figure book deal probably helps with the fatigue.

Elaborate Anonymous Sting Snags 190 Kiddie Porn Fans

Adrian Chen · 11/02/11 10:47AM

Some of the internet's sleaziest users must be freaking out today, having been outed by Anonymous as visitors to child porn forums. Vigilante Anonymous hackers are taking their war on underground kiddie porn to a new level by posting the IP addresses of people they claim are pedophiles.

Anonymous Threatens to Take Down Violent Mexican Drug Cartel

Lauri Apple · 10/30/11 05:01PM

The Zetas—a Mexican drug cartel believed to be responsible for numerous beheadings, murders, and acts of mayhem—got on the wrong side of the hacker collective Anonymous after allegedly kidnapping one of their members in Veracruz. Now Anonymous has issued an ultimatum: Release our man by November 5, or we'll expose your identities, addresses, and allies.

600,000 Facebook Logins Are Hijacked Every Day

Adrian Chen · 10/28/11 11:39AM

Facebook thought it was bragging when it announced recently that just 0.06% of its 1 billion daily user logins were made by hijacked accounts. But that's a hell of a lot of logins by hackers and spammers: 600,000/day, according to Sophos. Their new incredibly complicated super-friends scheme should fix this.

The Hacker Guru With the World's Best Tour Rider

Adrian Chen · 10/27/11 01:31PM

Hirsute hacker Richard Stallman is revered by geeks as a legendary champion of open source software. He is also a legendary weirdo. Take a look at the insanely detailed rider he gives people hosting him for lectures.

Anti-Censorship Crusaders Threaten to Censor Fox News

Adrian Chen · 10/25/11 12:46PM

Anonymous appears to be gathering steam for an attack to "destroy" Fox News on November 5th, for its propaganda against the Occupy Wall Street protest. As awful as Fox News is, this is a very dumb idea.

Anonymous Hacks Police Websites and Data to Support Occupy Wall Street

Adrian Chen · 10/21/11 05:27PM

Although they had a hand in starting the Occupy Wall Street protest, the hacktivist collective Anonymous has been pretty quiet since it started. No longer: Anonymous claims they just hacked a ton of police sites and leaked usernames and passwords.

Vigilante Hackers Wage War on Underground Kiddie Porn

Adrian Chen · 10/21/11 03:01PM

Just below the surface of the internet sits a network of hidden websites home to some of the worst stuff imaginable. Now hackers are going after pedophiles hiding in the so-called dark net.

Sesame Street Hacked With XXX Content

Seth Abramovitch · 10/16/11 10:35PM

We interrupt your regularly scheduled programming to bring you this Sesame Street News Flash! The Sesame Street YouTube channel is currently down after it fell victim on Sunday to a nefarious hacking entity that removed all of its content, then reprogrammed the page with hardcore porn.

Right-Wing Rabble-Rouser Leaks Thousands of Occupy Wall Street Emails

Adrian Chen · 10/15/11 01:20PM

Conservatives really have a hard-on for "infiltrating" Occupy Wall Street in an effort to discredit it. Now a computer expert has leaked thousands of emails from Occupy Wall Street organizers and told us he's identified members of the hacktivist collective Anonymous involved in the protest.

Arrest Made In Scarlett Johansson Nude Pic Hacking Case

Adrian Chen · 10/12/11 11:37AM

A Florida man has been arrested in connection with a spate of celebrity hacking cases, which hit Scarlett Johansson, Vanessa Hudgens and others. According to TMZ, the guy was a "lone wolf" who hacked for the thrill, not the money.