FBI Investigates ‘Anonymous’ DDoS Attacks

The FBI is investigating the “Operation: Payback” DDoS attacks that began in mid-September and took down multiple websites belonging to anti-piracy and entertainment groups,  and the U.S. Copyright Office, CNET reports.

Over the past two months, Anonymous has launched cyber attacks against websites belonging to the Motion Picture Association of America, The Recording Industry Association, Kiss frontman Gene Simmons, and others.

While one of the most recent…

Kiss Frontman Gene Simmons Targeted by Hackers

Two of Gene Simmons’ official sites were shut down after members of Anonymous responded to his comments about how the  music industry should have been tougher with illegal downloaders and file sharers, according to Guardian.

Both SimmonsRecords.com and GeneSimmons.com were taken offline briefly due to the attacks.

Prior to the cyber attacks, the Kiss frontman had commented on how the music industry had not taken enough action to stop illegal…

‘Operation Payback’ Results in 550 Hours’ Downtime, 742 Interruptions

The shadowy hacker coalition Anonymous’ most recent DDoS attacks against 11 organizations across the world have caused more than 550 hours of downtime and 742 service interruptions since the web assaults began Sept. 17, PandaLabs reports.

The latest attacks that began Oct. 6 on the Spanish Copyright Protection Society, the Spanish Culture Ministry and Promusicae websites have resulted in 119 service interruptions and more than 68 hours of downtime…

Anonymous Strikes Again; DDoS Attacks Spain’s Copyright Society

After recently cyber assaulting anti-piracy advocates and threatening to attack until it “stops being angry,” hacker collective Anonymous has struck again. The target this time: the Spanish copyright protection society.

PandaLabs reported how Anonymous yesterday launched a DDoS attack against the Spanish copyright protection society. As of 2:30 p.m. EDT yesterday, PandaLabs had witnessed more than 20 service interruptions to the society’s site, as well…

Anonymous Continues Cyber Attacks Until it Stops ‘Being Angry’

Hacker group Anonymous won’t stop cyber attacking anti-piracy advocates and other nemeses until it has stopped “being angry.”

In an interview yesterday with PandaLabs, an organizer of Anonymous said the collective’s mission was to fight back against the anti-piracy forces. Explaining how the group had been provoked by the U.K. Digital Economy Bill and “‘three-strikes legislation in the…

4chan Members Hack Official Tea Party Website

The official website run by the right-wing movement Tea Party was compromised by members of 4chan on Tuesday, The Register reports.

Vulnerabilities on the teaparty.org website allowed the hackers to reroute visitors landing on the site’s photo section to pornographic sites. According to The Register, it is unknown what website security shortcomings were exploited and whether they are now closed.

The attack follow last weekend’s DDoS attacks by members…

Third Anonymous Member Sentenced in Scientology Church Attack

A member of Anonymous was sentenced earlier this week in New York City Criminal Court for his role in an attack on the Church of Scientology of New York, making him the third affiliate of the hacktivist collective to be held responsible for the 2009 incident.

In 2009, Jacob Speregen accompanied another member of Anonymous, Mahoud Samed Almahadin, who ran into the New York Church off Times Square and…

Member of ‘Anonymous’ Sentenced for Attacking Scientology Church

A member of Anonymous, a loose coalition of hackers, was sentenced yesterday in New York Criminal Court in connection with a Jan. 8, 2009, attack on the Church of Scientology of New York.

Last January, a shirtless Mahoud Samed Almahadin, aka Matt Connor, covered in Vaseline and toenail clippings entered a Manhattan-based Church of Scientology and proceeded to throw around books and smear petroleum jelly onto objects. His actions were…

Australia Seeks to Hire Cybersecurity Professionals

Cyber experts in the United States consistently bemoan the dearth of skilled cyber professionals to fill the ranks as ‘cyber warriors.’ The Department of Homeland Security has advertised positions for cyber professionals via their website since the end of last year.

The Australian government is experiencing a similar shortage of skilled cyber professionals. The Australian Department of Defence has advertised…

Hacktivists Strike Australian Government Websites

In protest of proposed censorship regulations by the Australian government, hacktivists launched a distributed denial of service attack against Australian government websites.

Operation Titstorm, launched Wednesday, disrupted access to the sites of the Australian parliament and government, www.australia.gov.au and www.aph.gov.au.

The attacks included pornographic images, which were slated to be censored. The proposed filtering would block websites that feature “extreme sexual content.” The category includes rape, bestiality, and child pornography, but…