One of the blogs that I check every day for news on data breaches is an incredible resource called cyberwarnews.info. Lee’s blog has been the source of a number of recent entries in DataLossDB.
Today, Lee posted a commentary on his blog where he writes, in part:
So to all the hackers, CWN continues to ask for you to stop attacking innocent people and company’s (sic) and start focusing on the real troubles out there like, illegal porn, illegal human trafficking and drugs and stop causing extra work for the authorities so they can to focus on real world troubles
We will not be publishing any further credit card details or personal leaks.
The above views are my own expressions only, if you do not agree simply move on.
While I admire Lee’s position and decision enormously, I find myself torn between continuing to try to report on, and document, leaks involving personally identifiable information and following his lead. But tomorrow is Martin Luther King Day. He was one of my heroes and inspiration as an activist, and he taught us not to be silent in the presence of wrongdoing. So it’s time for me to speak up, too.
Although some people appear to believe hacking and data dumps of individuals’ personal information will effect positive political change, such tactics will ultimately backfire. Maybe you can justify leaks of e-mail databases that document corruption or government misconduct. But leaks of innocent parties’ personal information are simply ethically reprehensible and unjustifiable. Exposing how “secure” sites are not secure may be of some ultimate benefit. But putting people’s data out there and encouraging others to misuse it is reprehensible and unjustifiable. Striking back at a government agency that tramples civil liberties may be justifiable. Disrupting an organization that searches for cures for diseases or that helps disabled children is reprehensible and unjustifiable.
You can’t legitimately claim to care about the 99% when the people you’re hurting are the 99%.
You can’t legitimately claim to defend and protect freedom of speech in the #Occupy movement when you’re simultaneously trying to censor others’ speech by DD0Sing their sites or taking them down.
Dumping individuals’ private information “for the lulz” shows a callous disregard for the privacy of individuals. Just because you can doesn’t mean you should.
I realize that Anonymous is not one organization with a common set of rules or ethics, and my criticisms are not directed at all members of Anonymous. My hope is that individuals will think about whether what is being done in their name is really consistent with public statements about noble goals such as defending free speech and the rights of the 99%.
Years ago, the ACLU provided a valuable lesson on treasuring freedom of speech when it defended the rights of the very unpopular neo-Nazis in Skokie, Illinois. It was a very difficult situation at the time, and they took a lot of heat for it. Given that Jewish liberals were a significant part of their donor database, it was really a risky position for them to take, but they took the high road and stuck up for the principles of free speech. Today, members of Anonymous take down neo-Nazi sites or other sites where they object to the beliefs or actions of others. As much as I deplore those sites, suppressing or attacking their freedom of speech sets a bad example and only justifies others suppressing even more free speech.
My commentary will not sit well with those who passionately believe that they are right in what they are doing. But to remain silent in the face of unethical conduct is just not my style. So have at it – use the comments section below to explain how taking down sites because you don’t like their message is ethical if you believe in free speech. Or how attacking research or educational institutions is justifiable. Or how exposing and violating the privacy of individuals who are part of the 99% is acceptable just because you don’t like what their government or courts do or you don’t like the business whose newsletters they receive.
I have never accepted “collateral damage” as an excuse or “explanation” for the killing of innocents. I don’t accept it in the online wars, either, and I hope some members of Anonymous will also speak up and encourage more selectivity in targets and more restraint in exposing people’s private details.
I am a Constitutionalist. I am also a veteran, I am also a Christian (LDS). I firmly believe the Bill of Rights (the first ten amendments to our Constitution) to be divinely authored.
I remember reading about a church group that was protesting against gays at our service men’s funerals. Yelling curses at the families of the deceased veteran’s during the funeral, telling those families their sons would go to hell. The actions of this group were beyond reprehensible, and disgusted me. And as much as I wanted to tell them where they should go, I reminded myself of my favorite question “What would Jesus do? Then I’m reminded, I took an oath to uphold and defend the Constitution, and even though I’m a vet, I don’t remember anyone telling me I was released from my oath. So I must allow these people to have their say, otherwise the Constitution is meaningless. I must also forgive them for the offense they proffered these families, otherwise my Christian beliefs are worthless.
I have no issue with separating the church protesters from the funeral services, every family has a right to bury their son’s in dignity. Every family has a right to mourn their loss in peace. And yes, there will be a day of judgment, I trust in my savior, I leave it in his hands and to his wisdom.
I typically one not to judge anyone. Even in my forensics and Information Assurance job, I try to be as biased as I can be. Not everyone is guilty of the crime people say. Fingerpointing with all the facts shows which people lack the fundamental skills to carry out a proper decision.
In regards to hacking, the true “Hacker” tag has fallen by the wayside. Now its about egos’, the god-almighty-dollar and who can ooooohhhh and awwwwww the press.
In this economy, its not necessarily the best idea to attack individuals or corporations that haven’t directly affected something you are PERSONALLY involved in. Quoting something that happened before you were born and doing actions against that situation only proves your too young to come up with your own reasoning to commit harm to an organization.
For those hackers who bellow “Freedom of Speech” and include hacking as one of the cures in order to spread your word, your going about it the wrong way. I suggest using your highly talented occupation to correct issues, as discussed by others writers above, and obtaining a postive reputation, people will heed your word as a consultant; you establish trust; if you write posts on your forum the level of belief will be higher.
My perception of a hacker is simple. They are young, arrogant and “ego-testical”. Deep down they do not have an idea of which path to follow. They believe in something they read. They do script kidie style attacks, or attack a vulnerability that is older than they are. They truly do not get it; eventually – and I mean eventually they will pay for their actions. If they think they can hide, they are truly mistaken. All it takes is the combined work of several of the agencies and they can track back just about anything. If you think technology to find you is not imbeded into the software you hold closely and trust, you are sadly mistaken. There ARE many highly educated, and skilled hackers that WORK for the FBI, NSA and other agencies. If you think your good, think about that hacker that helps thwart attacks, who is sitting down, stress free making 150,000+ a year legitimately doing what he/she loves to do.
You may have time to turn around your life before your sitting in a cell for years for the actions you chose to commit. Any amount of bellowing about freedom of speech, your rights, and your ability to succeed go out the window. You will become a felon, unable to work, probably unable to pay off the restituion until your 70, and devoid of comupters for the rest of your life. It’s your Fate; pick your path.
errrr unbiased as I can be….