6 Times Anonymous Has Declared Cyber War on Big Business, Government and Terrorism
The VAR Guy looks back on some of Anonymous' most recent hacktivism campaigns, against homelessness, Hillary Clinton and terrorism.
![6 Times Anonymous Has Declared Cyber War on Big Business, Government and Terrorism 6 Times Anonymous Has Declared Cyber War on Big Business, Government and Terrorism](https://eu-images.contentstack.com/v3/assets/blt10e444bce2d36aa8/blt138a5e66fc3e6f5c/652467e6ecb8d7db63c40947/Anonymous_Mask_0.jpg?width=700&auto=webp&quality=80&disable=upscale)
Anonymous, the infamous hacker collective bent on bringing justice to corrupt organizations, terrorist groups and so-called dangerous individuals, has promised to attack banking institutions in its latest campaign, codenamed Operation Icarus. The attack is scheduled to last for a full month and kicked off with an attack on the Bank of Greece earlier this month.
In light of the shadowy group’s ambitious new act of “hacktivism,” The VAR Guy invites you to look back at the group’s most recent campaigns against everyone from to ISIS to homelessness and even Hillary Clinton.
This week, Anonymous kicked off part of “Operation Icarus” with an attack on the Bank of Greece website. Although the hack only lasted a matter of minutes, it made good on the group’s new promise to attack “central bank sites across the world” according to a recent YouTube video. The group’s spokesperson said in the video that similar attacks would continue for the next 30 days.
Although not an outright call to arms for social hacktivism, Anonymous has sought to influence public opinion of Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton. Beginning in April, the group issued several videos about Clinton, including one that calls her ethics into question harkening back to her time as First Lady under the Clinton Administration.
In another video, Anonymous addresses Clinton directly in regard to her alleged lies and deception of the public and warns her in regard to her actions.
Following the terrorist attacks on Brussels on March 22, Anonymous issued an official video stating that it would not tolerate attacks from ISIS. The group pledged to hack ISIS-run websites, shut down Twitter accounts and “dismantle them to the best of their ability” because of their actions against those killed in Belgium
According to a video on Anonymous’s YouTube page in February, Operation Africa is an attempt to prevent corporations and governments from spreading corruption in Africa. Anonymous specifically called out groups who encourage or fund child abuse/labor and Internet censorship.
The operation is described as “an ongoing effort by several activists within Anonymous who have begun collaborating” as well as in partnership with OpNigeria and AnonymousSA, according to the group.
In November, Anonymous launched two campaigns centered around helping the homeless and providing toys to children for the holidays respectively. With Operation Safe Winter, Anonymous called on its members to use small acts of kindness to promote unity as well as to support local food drives. The group also set up a separate website where members could post specific geographic locational information on how to help the homeless and impoverished.
Similarly, Operation Helping Hands centered around providing children with toys for the holiday season. The group encouraged its members to “Create ways to collect donations of used toys and children’s clothes for redistribution to families in need of a helping hand.” The group said it hoped members would donate good anonymously so that parents and guardians can give them to their children in their own name.
After ISIS claimed responsibility for a series of attacks that killed 130 people in Paris on Nov. 13, Anonymous promised a “total mobilization” in tracking down the terrorists responsible and bringing them to justice.
In a follow-up video, Anonymous addressed ISIS directly, saying “We will hunt you, take down your sites, accounts, emails, and expose you… From now on, no safe place for you online… You will be treated like a virus, and we are the cure.”
After ISIS claimed responsibility for a series of attacks that killed 130 people in Paris on Nov. 13, Anonymous promised a “total mobilization” in tracking down the terrorists responsible and bringing them to justice.
In a follow-up video, Anonymous addressed ISIS directly, saying “We will hunt you, take down your sites, accounts, emails, and expose you… From now on, no safe place for you online… You will be treated like a virus, and we are the cure.”
The VAR Guy looks back on some of Anonymous' most recent hacktivism campaigns, against homelessness, Hillary Clinton and terrorism.
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