Anonymous Wikileaks backers explain web attacks

A gang of pro-Wikileaks web activists that coordinated a string of web attacks have gone public to explain their behaviour.

The Anonymous group explained that it was not made up of hackers but instead average internet citizens that felt motivated to take action due to what they called perceived injustices against the whistle-blowing site. Anonymous told how it has no interest in neither stealing credit card details nor attacking critical infrastructure of the likes of Mastercard and Paypal.

Details were posted on the internet by one of the various groups claiming to have carried out the attacks.  In a statement that was published on the 10th of December, Anonymous pointed out that it not a faction but instead an internet gathering. As well as this, it pointed out that the ongoing attacks were symbolic action against the corporate giants that withdrew contribution and payment services from Wikileaks.

The statement comes as documents have been released that suggest the controversial group might be changing its tactics. However, as was explained in the statement, Anonymous has an incredibly loose and uncentred command structure that acts on ideas as opposed to directives.

When asked if participating in the attacks as part of Anonymous would be considered as breaking the law, a high profile solicitor told the BBC that they would indeed be a criminal breach of the UK’s Computer Misuse Act and could find those involved facing up to ten years in jail. While the act of hacking is illegal in itself, even downloading the tools needed to commit the attacks are an offence.