Anonymous and DDoS

Anonymous don’t like the fact that some of their activists have been arrested in connection with the Computer Misuse Act 1990.

Frankly, I’ve not felt motivated to comment on Wikileaks. I am generally supportive of leaking information where there is blatant misuse of power or criminal activity, but the recent leaks were nothing to write home about and generally did the principle a disservice –  as opposed to acting as a vehicle for boosting the already inflated ego of Julian Assange.

Anonymous is another organisation that I find is pretty much so far up its own arse that daylight is unlikely to reach the recesses of their collective brains.

They have issued an open letter to the government (pdf). Frankly, it’s nothing more than a pathetic self-righteous whinge.

It has come to our attention that you deemed it necessary to arrest five of our fellow anons [not very anonymous, then –  ed] for their participation in the DDoS attacks against PayPal, Mastercard, and others, that have been carried out in our name in retaliation for those organisations’ actions against WikiLeaks.

No, they were arrested for engaging in criminal activity against companies that withdrew services from Wikileaks as they were perfectly entitled to. It’s called freedom of association.

We understand you are planning to charge these fellow anons with offences under the 1990 Computer Misuse Act, which prohibits impairing the operation of a computer or the readability of data. Anonymous believes, however, that pursuing this direction is a sad mistake on your behalf. Not only does it reveal the fact that you do not seem to understand the present-day political and technological reality, we also take this as a serious declaration of war from yourself, the UK government, to us, Anonymous, the people.

Right, firstly, you self-righteous twats –  don’t presume to speak for anyone other than yourselves. You are not the people. And as for declaring war –  oh, do get over yourselves and grow the fuck up.

These fuckwits seem to believe that breaking the law is the same thing as legitimate protest.

We understand you are planning to charge these fellow anons with offences under the 1990 Computer Misuse Act, which prohibits impairing the operation of a computer or the readability of data. Anonymous believes, however, that pursuing this direction is a sad mistake on your behalf. Not only does it reveal the fact that you do not seem to understand the present-day political and technological reality, we also take this as a serious declaration of war from yourself, the UK government, to us, Anonymous, the people.

Bollocks. Any activity that prevents people going about their legitimate business is not mere protest and the authorities will deal with people doing it –  they always have. In this case, there is a specific offence covering the activity and these people have committed it. Prosecution, therefore is right and proper.

Sure, protest if you wish, but don’t try to dress up blatant criminal activity as protest. And, if you feel that civil disobedience is necessary (it isn’t in this case), then be big enough to take the rap when you get caught. That old cliché holds true today as it ever did –  if you can’t do the time…

So don’t whinge about the consequences of being prosecuted.

To hand out these kinds of harsh sentences (even to minors!) would effectively ruin their life, taking away their chance at higher education or even any kind of proper future, simply because they participated in a peaceful cyber-protest and stood up for their rights. A fine as high as £5000 would also put an incredible strain on the minors’ families.

No you made the decision. If that means subsequent consequences that affect your lives, so be it. Your actions, your decision, your responsibility. It is no one’s fault but yours. Have the gumption to take some responsibility for your actions –  oh, and grow the fuck up (did I say that already?). And if minors are involved, that is your fault, not the government’s.

So our advice to you, the UK government, is to take this statement as a serious warning from the citizens of the world. We will not rest until our fellow anon protesters have been released.

Sigh… Anon are not the citizens of the world, they are a bunch of pompous fuckwits who have an over-inflated opinion of their own importance in the scheme of things. Get over yourselves. And grow the fuck up (okay so I did say that already). Frankly, the way these people behave almost makes me feel sorry for the Scientologists. It’s difficult to decide who is worse. It’s a close call and I’m beginning to come down on the side of the Scientologists.

You may get the feeling that I don’t take kindly to people who engage in DDoS attacks. You may be right.