View source for Organization:Anonymous (group)

{{pp-semi-indef}}
{{short description|Hacktivist group}}
{{Infobox organization
|name = Anonymous
|motto = We Are Anonymous
|image = Anonymous emblem.svg
|size = 160px
|alt =
|map = Anonymous at Scientology in Los Angeles.jpg
|msize = 200px
|malt =
|mcaption = Individuals appearing in public as Anonymous, wearing [[Social:Guy Fawkes mask|Guy Fawkes mask]]s
|formation = {{circa| 2004}}
|type = {{plain list|
* Multiple-use name/[[Avatar (computing)|avatar]]
* [[Virtual community]]
* [[Social:Voluntary association|Voluntary association]]
}}
|purpose = {{plain list|
* Anti-cyber-surveillance
* Anti-[[Social:Internet censorship|cyber-censorship]]
* [[Social:Internet activism|Internet activism]]
* Internet vigilantism
}}
|region_served = Global
|membership = [[Social:Decentralization|Decentralized]] [[Social:Affinity group|affinity group]]
}}
'''Anonymous''' is a decentralized international activist/hacktivist [[Social:Collective|collective]]/movement that is widely known for its various cyber attacks against several governments, government institutions and government agencies, corporations, and the [[Organization:Church of Scientology|Church of Scientology]].

Anonymous originated in 2003 on the [[Social:Imageboard|imageboard]] [[Social:4chan|4chan]] representing the concept of many online and offline community users simultaneously existing as an [[Social:Anarchy|anarchic]], digitized [[Biology:Global brain|global brain]].<ref name="citypaper">{{cite web|url=http://www.citypaper.com/columns/story.asp?id=15543 |publisher=Baltimore City Paper |date=April 2, 2008 |accessdate=July 3, 2008 |title=Serious Business: Anonymous Takes On Scientology (and Doesn't Afraid of Anything) |last=Landers |first=Chris |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080608050312/http://www.citypaper.com/columns/story.asp?id=15543 |archivedate=June 8, 2008 |url-status=dead |df=mdy }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | first = Jon | last = Oltsik | title = Edward Snowden Beyond Data Security | date = December 3, 2013 | url = http://www.networkworld.com/community/node/84381 |publisher=Network World | accessdate = December 4, 2013}}</ref> Anonymous members (known as ''Anons'') can be distinguished in public by the wearing of [[Social:Guy Fawkes mask|Guy Fawkes mask]]s in the style portrayed in the graphic novel and film ''V for Vendetta''.<ref>{{cite news | first = Rosie | last = Waites | title = V for Vendetta masks: Who | date = October 20, 2011 | url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-15359735 |publisher=BBC News | accessdate = October 20, 2011}}</ref> However, this may not always be the case as some of the collective prefer to instead cover their face without using the well-known mask as a disguise. Some anons also opt to mask their voices through [[Engineering:Voice changer|voice changer]]s or text-to-speech programs.

In its early form, the concept was adopted by a decentralized [[Online community|online community]] acting anonymously in a coordinated manner, usually toward a loosely self-agreed goal and primarily focused on entertainment (or lulz). Beginning with [[Social:Project Chanology|Project Chanology]] in 2008—a series of protests, pranks, and hacks targeting the [[Organization:Church of Scientology|Church of Scientology]]—the Anonymous collective became increasingly associated with collaborative hacktivism on a number of issues internationally. Individuals claiming to align themselves with Anonymous undertook protests and other actions (including direct action) in retaliation against copyright-focused campaigns by motion picture and recording industry trade associations. Later targets of Anonymous hacktivism included government agencies of the {{wipe|United States}}, [[Place:Israel|Israel]], Tunisia, Uganda and others; the [[Religion:Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant|Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant]]; child pornography sites; copyright protection agencies; the [[Religion:Westboro Baptist Church|Westboro Baptist Church]]; and corporations such as [[Company:PayPal|PayPal]], MasterCard, [[Company:Visa Inc.|Visa]], and [[Company:Sony|Sony]]. Anons have publicly supported [[Social:WikiLeaks|WikiLeaks]] and the [[Social:Occupy movement|Occupy movement]]. Related groups LulzSec and [[Operation AntiSec]] carried out cyberattacks on U.S. government agencies, media, video game companies, military contractors, military personnel, and police officers, resulting in the attention of law enforcement to the groups' activities.

Dozens of people have been arrested for involvement in Anonymous cyberattacks in countries including the United States, the {{wipe|United Kingdom}}, {{wipe|Australia}}, the Netherlands, {{wipe|Spain}}, {{wipe|India}}, and [[Place:Turkey|Turkey]]. Evaluations of the group's actions and effectiveness vary widely. Supporters have called the group "freedom fighters"<ref name="Krupnick">{{cite web |url=http://www.mercurynews.com/top-stories/ci_18686764 |title=Freedom fighters or vandals? No consensus on Anonymous |author=Krupnick, Matt |date=August 15, 2011 |work=Oakland Tribune |publisher= MercuryNews.com|accessdate=July 10, 2013}}</ref> and digital Robin Hoods<ref name="CBC">{{cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2012/03/15/f-online-protest.html |title=From Anonymous to shuttered websites, the evolution of online protest |author=Carter, Adam |date=March 15, 2013 |publisher=CBC News |accessdate=May 6, 2013 |archivedate=May 3, 2013 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130503153135/http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2012/03/15/f-online-protest.html |url-status=live |df=mdy }}</ref> while critics have described them as "a cyber lynch-mob"<ref name="Coleman">{{cite web|url=http://mediacommons.futureofthebook.org/tne/pieces/anonymous-lulz-collective-action |title=Anonymous: From the Lulz to Collective Action |author=Coleman, Gabriella |date=April 6, 2011 |accessdate=May 5, 2013 |archivedate=May 17, 2013 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130517212228/http://mediacommons.futureofthebook.org/tne/pieces/anonymous-lulz-collective-action |url-status=live |df=mdy }}</ref> or "cyber terrorists".<ref name="Rawlinson">{{cite web |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-31126850.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130629103235/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-31126850.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 29, 2013 |title=Hackers step up war on security services |author1=Rawlinson, Kevin |author2=Peachey, Paul |date=April 13, 2012 |work=The Independent |publisher= {{Subscription required|via=[[Software:HighBeam Research|HighBeam Research]]}}|accessdate=May 5, 2013}}</ref> In 2012, ''{{wipe|Time (magazine)}}'' called Anonymous one of the "100 most influential people" in the world.<ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite news| url=http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2111975_2111976_2112122,00.html |author=Gellman, Barton | work=Time | title=The 100 Most Influential People In The World | date=April 18, 2012}}</ref> Anonymous' media profile diminished over the last few years,<ref name=vicetrump>{{cite news|url=https://news.vice.com/en_us/article/ywna4w/anonymous-declared-war-on-trump-and-then-disappeared|title=Is Anonymous over?|author=David Gilbert|date=2016-11-29|publisher=VICE}}</ref><ref name=indyqanon>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/anonymous-qanon-donald-trump-latest-truth-identity-hacking-a8481511.html|title=Anonymous promises to uncover the truth behind 'QAnon' conspiracy theory|author=Andrew Griffin|date=2018-08-07|publisher=The Independent}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/what-happened-anonymous-experts-say-theyre-script-kiddies-who-barely-understand-hacking-1625087|title=What happened to Anonymous? Experts say they're 'script kiddies who barely understand hacking'|author=Jason Murdock|date=2017-08-14|publisher=IB Times}}</ref> but the group re-emerged in 2020 to support the George Floyd protests.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/anonymous-george-floyd-black-lives-matter-facebook-twitter-video-k-pop-a9542666.html|title='Anonymous' is back and is supporting the Black Lives Matter protests|date=June 1, 2020|website=The Independent}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-52879000|title=The return of the Anonymous hacker collective|first1=David|last1=Molloy|first2=Joe|last2=Tidy|date=June 1, 2020|via=www.bbc.co.uk}}</ref>

== Philosophy ==
{{quote|Long-standing political question that has gone unanswered with often tragic consequences for social movements. This is an Internet-based, non-extremist, [[Social:Socialism|socialist]] community movement that looks for answers to questions that are unanswered.<ref>{{Cite web|url = https://archive.org/details/ThePhilosophyOfAnonymous_201708| p = 27|title = The philosophy of Anonymous|date = |accessdate = 24 February 2014|publisher = Harry Halpin}}</ref>}}
Internal dissent is also a regular feature of the group.{{sfn|Kelly|2012|p = 1678}} A website associated with the group describes it as "an Internet gathering" with "a very loose and decentralized command structure that operates on ideas rather than directives".{{sfn|Kelly|2012|p = 1678}} Gabriella Coleman writes of the group: "In some ways, it may be impossible to gauge the intent and motive of thousands of participants, many of who don't even bother to leave a trace of their thoughts, motivations, and reactions. Among those that do, opinions vary considerably."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2010/12/what-its-like-to-participate-in-anonymous-actions/67860/ |title=What It's Like to Participate in Anonymous' Actions |author=Coleman, Gabriella |date=December 10, 2010 |work=The Atlantic |accessdate=May 2, 2013 |archivedate=April 4, 2013 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130404103222/http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2010/12/what-its-like-to-participate-in-anonymous-actions/67860/ |url-status=live |df=mdy }}</ref>

Broadly speaking, Anons oppose Internet censorship and control and the majority of their actions target governments, organizations, and corporations that they accuse of censorship. Anons were early supporters of the global [[Social:Occupy movement|Occupy movement]] and the [[Social:Arab Spring|Arab Spring]].{{sfn|Kelly|2012|p = 1682}} Since 2008, a frequent subject of disagreement within Anonymous is whether members should focus on pranking and entertainment or more serious (and, in some cases, political) activism.{{citation needed|date=February 2016}}{{sfn|Olson|2012|p = 92}}

{{quote|We [Anonymous] just happen to be a group of people on the Internet who need{{mdash}}just kind of an outlet to do as we wish, that we wouldn't be able to do in regular society. ...That's more or less the point of it. Do as you wish. ... There's a common phrase: 'we are doing it for the lulz.'|||Trent Peacock. ''Search Engine: The Face of Anonymous'', February 7, 2008.<ref name="Search Engine">{{cite news |last=Brown |first=Jesse |title=Community Organization with Digital Tools: The face of Anonymous |work=MediaShift Idea Lab: Reinventing Community News for the Digital Age |publisher=PBS |date=February 7, 2008 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080211091428/http://www.cbc.ca/searchengine/blog/2008/02/this_weeks_show_feb708_1.html |archivedate=February 11, 2008 |url= https://www.pbs.org/idealab/2008/03/community-organization-with-di.html |accessdate=March 3, 2008}}</ref>}}

Because Anonymous has no leadership, no action can be attributed to the membership as a whole. Parmy Olson and others have criticized media coverage that presents the group as well-organized or homogeneous; Olson writes, "There was no single leader pulling the levers, but a few organizational minds that sometimes pooled together to start planning a stunt."{{sfn|Olson|2012|pp = 58–59}} Some members protest using legal means, while others employ illegal measures such as DDoS attacks and hacking.{{sfn|Olson|2012|p = x}} Membership is open to anyone who wishes to state they are a member of the collective;{{sfn|Kelly|2012|p = 1679}} British journalist
Carole Cadwalladr of ''The Observer'' compared the group's decentralized structure to that of [[Religion:Al-Qaeda|al-Qaeda]]: "If you believe in Anonymous, and call yourself Anonymous, you are Anonymous."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2012/sep/08/anonymous-behind-masks-cyber-insurgents |title=Anonymous: behind the masks of the cyber insurgents |author=Cadwalladr, Carole |date=September 8, 2012 |work=The Guardian |accessdate=May 2, 2013 |archivedate=January 16, 2013 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130116192338/http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2012/sep/08/anonymous-behind-masks-cyber-insurgents |url-status=live |df=mdy }}</ref> Olson, who formerly described Anonymous as a "brand", stated in 2012 that she now characterized it as a "movement" rather than a group: "anyone can be part of it. It is a crowd of people, a nebulous crowd of people, working together and doing things together for various purposes."<ref name="Olson">{{cite web|url=http://www.rferl.org/content/parmy-olson-on-anonymous-a-growing-phenomenon-that-we-dont-yet-understand/24607895.html |title=Parmy Olson On Anonymous: 'A Growing Phenomenon That We Don't Yet Understand' |author=Allnut, Luke |date=June 8, 2012 |publisher=Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |accessdate=May 2, 2013 |archivedate=February 24, 2013 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130224040944/http://www.rferl.org/content/parmy-olson-on-anonymous-a-growing-phenomenon-that-we-dont-yet-understand/24607895.html |url-status=live |df=mdy }}</ref>

The group's few rules include not disclosing one's identity, not talking about the group, and not attacking media.{{sfn|Olson|2012|p = 7}} Members commonly use the tagline "We are Anonymous. We are Legion. We do not forgive. We do not forget. Expect us."<ref name="Morris">{{cite web|url=http://www.salon.com/2013/04/30/tk_5_partner_15/singleton/ |title=Julian Assange: The Internet threatens civilization |author=Morris, Adam |date=April 30, 2013 |work=Salon |accessdate=May 2, 2013 |archivedate=May 4, 2013 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130504080755/http://www.salon.com/2013/04/30/tk_5_partner_15/singleton/ |url-status=live |df=mdy }}</ref> Brian Kelly writes that three of the group's key characteristics are "(1) an unrelenting moral stance on issues and rights, regardless of direct provocation; (2) a physical presence that accompanies
online hacking activity; and (3) a distinctive brand."{{sfn|Kelly|2012|p = 1680}}

Journalists have commented that Anonymous' secrecy, fabrications, and media awareness pose an unusual challenge for reporting on the group's actions and motivations.<ref name="Norton" />{{sfn|Olson|2012|pp = 122–23}} Quinn Norton of ''Wired'' writes that: "Anons lie when they have no reason to lie. They weave vast fabrications as a form of performance. Then they tell the truth at unexpected and unfortunate times, sometimes destroying themselves in the process. They are unpredictable."<ref name="Norton">{{cite web|url=https://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2012/06/anonymous-parmy-olson-review/all/ |title=In Flawed, Epic Anonymous Book, the Abyss Gazes Back |author=Norton, Quinn |date=June 13, 2012 |work=Wired |accessdate=May 2, 2013 |archivedate=September 20, 2012 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120920213942/http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2012/06/anonymous-parmy-olson-review/all/ |url-status=live |df=mdy }}</ref> Norton states that the difficulties in reporting on the group cause most writers, including herself, to focus on the "small groups of hackers who stole the limelight from a legion, defied their values, and crashed violently into the law" rather than "Anonymous’s sea of voices, all experimenting with new ways of being in the world".<ref name="Norton" />

== History ==

=== 4chan raids (2003–2007) ===
{{main|Social:4chan}}
<!--DO NOT mention any names of living individuals unless they were EXPLICITLY stated in the Fox 11 report per WP:BLP-->
[[File:Anonymous Fox 11.jpg|thumb|KTTV Fox 11 investigative report on Anonymous. The report focused on what were then contemporary instances of Internet bullying by Anonymous.<ref name="foxnewsanonreport" />]]
The name Anonymous itself is inspired by the perceived anonymity under which users post images and comments on the Internet. Usage of the term Anonymous in the sense of a shared identity began on [[Social:Imageboard|imageboard]]s, particularly the /b/ board of [[Social:4chan|4chan]], dedicated to random content. A tag of Anonymous is assigned to visitors who leave comments without identifying the originator of the posted content. Users of imageboards sometimes jokingly acted as if Anonymous was a single individual. The concept of the Anonymous entity advanced in 2004 when an administrator on the 4chan image board activated a "Forced_Anon" protocol that signed all posts as Anonymous.{{sfn|Olson|2012|p = 28}} As the popularity of imageboards increased, the idea of Anonymous as a collective of unnamed individuals became an [[Social:Internet meme|Internet meme]].<ref name="whipple">{{cite news|last=Whipple |first=Tom |title=Scientology: the Anonymous protesters. |work=The Times |location=UK |date=June 20, 2008 |url=http://women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/women/the_way_we_live/article4173635.ece |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080905163346/http://women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/women/the_way_we_live/article4173635.ece |archivedate=September 5, 2008 }}</ref>

Users of 4chan's /b/ board would occasionally join into mass pranks or raids. In a raid on July 12, 2006, for example, large numbers of 4chan readers invaded the Finnish social networking site Habbo Hotel with identical avatars; the avatars blocked regular Habbo members from accessing the digital hotel's pool, stating it was "closed due to fail and AIDS".{{sfn|Olson|2012|p = 49}} Future LulzSec member Topiary became involved with the site at this time, inviting large audiences to listen to his prank phone calls via [[Software:Skype|Skype]].{{sfn|Olson|2012|p = 48}}{{efn|Topiary was later revealed to be Jake Davis, a teenager living in the Shetland Islands of Scotland.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-34661100.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714224818/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-34661100.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 14, 2014 |title=Two-year term for Shetland hacker |date=May 17, 2013 |work=The Herald |publisher= {{Subscription required|via=[[Software:HighBeam Research|HighBeam Research]]}}|accessdate=June 27, 2013}}</ref>}} Due to the growing traffic on 4chan's boards, users soon began to plot pranks offline using [[Internet Relay Chat]] (IRC).{{sfn|Olson|2012|pp = 50–52}} These raids resulted in the first mainstream press story on Anonymous, a report by Fox station KTTV in Los Angeles, California in the U.S. The report called the group "hackers on steroids", "domestic terrorists", and an "Internet hate machine".<ref name="foxnewsanonreport">{{cite news|author=Shuman, Phil |title=FOX 11 Investigates: 'Anonymous{{'-}} |url=http://www.myfoxla.com/myfox/pages/Home/Detail?contentId=3894628&version=7&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=VSTY&pageId=1.1.1&sflg=1 |publisher=KTTV (Fox) |work=MyFOX Los Angeles |date=July 26, 2007 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080522123812/http://www.myfoxla.com/myfox/pages/Home/Detail?contentId=3894628&version=7&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=VSTY&pageId=1.1.1&sflg=1 |archivedate=May 22, 2008 |url-status=dead |df=mdy }}</ref>{{sfn|Olson|2012|pp = 57–58}}

=== Encyclopedia Dramatica (2004–present) ===
{{main|Social:Encyclopedia Dramatica}}
Encyclopedia Dramatica was founded in 2004 by Sherrod DiGrippo, initially as a means of documenting gossip related to livejournal, but it quickly was adopted as a major platform by Anonymous for parody and other purposes.<ref name="assclown" /> The [[Social:Not safe for work|not safe for work]] site celebrates a subversive "trolling culture", and documents Internet memes, culture, and events, such as mass pranks, trolling events, "raids", large-scale failures of Internet security, and criticism of Internet communities that are accused of [[Social:Self-censorship|self-censorship]] in order to gain prestige or positive coverage from traditional and established media outlets. Journalist Julian Dibbell described Encyclopædia Dramatica as the site "where the vast parallel universe of Anonymous in-jokes, catchphrases, and obsessions is lovingly annotated, and you will discover an elaborate trolling culture: Flamingly racist and misogynist content lurks throughout, all of it calculated to offend."<ref name="assclown">{{citation | last = Dibbell | first = Julian | title = The Assclown Offensive: How to Enrage the Church of Scientology | url = https://www.wired.com/culture/culturereviews/magazine/17-10/mf_chanology?currentPage=all | publisher = Wired Magazine | accessdate= November 27, 2009 | date = September 21, 2009}}</ref> The site also played a role in the anti-[[Religion:Scientology|Scientology]] campaign of [[Social:Project Chanology|Project Chanology]].<ref>{{citation|first=Julian |last=Dibbell |date=2008-07-11 |chapter=Sympathy for the Griefer: MOOrape, Lulz Cubes, and Other Lessons From the First 2 Decades of Online Sociopathy |title=GLS Conference 4.0 |publisher=Games, Learning and Society Group |location=Madison, Wisconsin |chapter-url=http://hosted4.mediasite.com/mediasite/Viewer/?peid=9d1cf257-52ff-4704-9cb5-37de2ecca35b |accessdate=November 7, 2008 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714064724/http://hosted4.mediasite.com/mediasite/Viewer/?peid=9d1cf257-52ff-4704-9cb5-37de2ecca35b |archivedate=July 14, 2011 |df=mdy }} Project Chanology "mention" begins approximately 27:45 minutes into the presentation.</ref>

On April 14, 2011, the original URL of the site was redirected to a new website named ''Oh Internet'' that bore little resemblance to Encyclopedia Dramatica. Parts of the ED community harshly criticized the changes.<ref name="msnbc">{{cite news|last=Popkin |first=Helen A.S. |title=Notorious NSFW website cleans up its act |url=http://digitallife.today.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/04/18/6489864-notorious-nsfw-website-cleans-up-its-act |newspaper=Digital Life on MSNBC |date=April 18, 2011 |accessdate=April 19, 2011 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111101152109/http://digitallife.today.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/04/18/6489864-notorious-nsfw-website-cleans-up-its-act |archivedate=November 1, 2011 |df=mdy }}</ref> In response, Anonymous launched "Operation Save ED" to rescue and restore the site's content.<ref>[http://anonnews.org/press/item/820/ Everything Anonymous] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130510064315/http://anonnews.org/press/item/820/ |date=May 10, 2013 }}. AnonNews.org (2013-04-20). Retrieved on 2013-08-12.</ref> The Web Ecology Project made a downloadable archive of former Encyclopedia Dramatica content.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.webecologyproject.org/2011/04/archiving-internet-subculture-encyclopedia-dramatica/ |title=Archiving Internet Subculture: Encyclopedia Dramatica |first=Alex|last=Leavitt |date=2011-04-15 |work=Web Ecology Project |publisher= |accessdate=2011-09-29}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=Epic Win for Anonymous: How 4chan's Army Conquered the Web |last=Stryker |first=Cole |year=2011 |publisher=Overlook Press |location=New York, New York |isbn=978-1-59020-738-3 |page=155 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cbWNirl8gsMC&pg=PT155 |accessdate=2011-09-29}}</ref> The site's reincarnation was initially hosted at encyclopediadramatica.ch on servers owned by Ryan Cleary, who later was arrested<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ibtimes.com/who-lulzsec-hacker-ryan-cleary-292883|title=Who is LulzSec hacker Ryan Cleary?|date=June 22, 2011|publisher=}}</ref> in relation to attacks by LulzSec against Sony. {{citation needed|date=December 2016}}

=== Project Chanology (2008) ===
{{main|Social:Project Chanology}}
[[File:Message to Scientology.ogv|thumb|300px|"Message to Scientology", January 21, 2008]]
Anonymous first became associated with [[Hacktivism|hacktivism]]{{efn|A portmanteau of "hacking" and "activism"}} in 2008 following a series of actions against the [[Organization:Church of Scientology|Church of Scientology]] known as Project Chanology. On January 15, 2008, the gossip blog Gawker posted a video in which celebrity Scientologist Tom Cruise praised the religion;<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1A1-D8U6KGQG0.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131106001550/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1A1-D8U6KGQG0.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 6, 2013 |title=Cruise bio hits stores as video clip of actor praising Scientology makes it way to Internet |agency=Associated Press |date=January 15, 2008 |work=The Washington Post |publisher= {{Subscription required|via=[[Software:HighBeam Research|HighBeam Research]]}}|accessdate=May 2, 2013}}</ref> and the Church responded with a cease-and-desist letter for violation of copyright.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-15129123.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105233729/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-15129123.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 5, 2013 |title=Tom Cruise's Scary Movie; In Church Promo, the Scientologist Is Hard to Suppress |author=Tucker, Neely |date=January 18, 2008 |work=Washington Post |publisher= {{Subscription required|via=[[Software:HighBeam Research|HighBeam Research]]}}|accessdate=May 2, 2013}}</ref> 4chan users organized a raid against the Church in retaliation, prank-calling its hotline, sending [[Black fax|black fax]]es designed to waste ink cartridges, and launching DDoS attacks against its websites.{{sfn|Olson|2012|pp = 63–65}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-174076065.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105233744/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-174076065.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 5, 2013 |title=Fair game; Scientology |date=February 2, 2008 |work=The Economist |publisher= {{Subscription required|via=[[Software:HighBeam Research|HighBeam Research]]}}|accessdate=May 2, 2013}}</ref>

The DDoS attacks were at first carried out with the Gigaloader and JMeter applications. Within a few days, these were supplanted by the [[Software:Low Orbit Ion Cannon|Low Orbit Ion Cannon]] (LOIC), a network stress-testing application allowing users to flood a server with [[Transmission Control Protocol|TCP]] or [[User Datagram Protocol|UDP]] packets. The LOIC soon became a signature weapon in the Anonymous arsenal; however, it would also lead to a number of arrests of less experienced Anons who failed to conceal their [[IP address]]es.{{sfn|Olson|2012|pp = 71–72, 122, 124, 126–29}} Some operators in Anonymous IRC channels incorrectly told or lied to new volunteers that using the LOIC carried no legal risk.{{sfn|Olson|2012|p = 206}}<ref name="Anon1012">{{cite web|url=https://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2011/12/anonymous-101-part-deux/all/ |title=Anonymous 101 Part Deux: Morals Triumph Over Lulz |author=Norton, Quinn |date=December 30, 2011 |work=Wired |accessdate=May 5, 2013 |archivedate=April 3, 2013 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130403213205/http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2011/12/anonymous-101-part-deux/all |url-status=live |df=mdy }}</ref>
[[File:Anonymous Scientology 1 by David Shankbone.JPG|thumb|left|Protesters outside a Scientology center on February 10, 2008]]
During the DDoS attacks, a group of Anons uploaded a [[Company:YouTube|YouTube]] video in which a robotic voice speaks on behalf of Anonymous, telling the "leaders of Scientology" that "For the good of your followers, for the good of mankind—for the laughs—we shall expel you from the Internet."{{sfn|Olson|2012|pp = 71–72}}<ref name="George-Cosh">{{cite news|last=George-Cosh |first=David |title=Online group declares war on Scientology |work=National Post |date=January 25, 2008 |url=https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/story.html?id=261308 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20080128145858/http://www.nationalpost.com/news/canada/story.html?id=261308 |archive-date=January 28, 2008 |accessdate=January 25, 2008 |url-status=dead |df=mdy }}</ref> Within ten days, the video had attracted hundreds of thousands of views.<ref name="George-Cosh" />

On February 10, thousands of Anonymous joined simultaneous protests at Church of Scientology facilities around the world.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.questia.com/read/1G1-175951837 |title=Scientology faces wave of cyber attacks |date=March 4, 2008 |work=Cape Times |publisher= |via=Questia Online Library |url-access=subscription|accessdate=May 2, 2013}}</ref> Many protesters wore the stylized [[Social:Guy Fawkes mask|Guy Fawkes mask]]s popularized by the graphic novel and film ''V for Vendetta'', in which an anarchist revolutionary battles a totalitarian government; the masks soon became a popular symbol for Anonymous.{{sfn|Olson|2012|p = 82–3}} In-person protests against the Church continued throughout the year, including "Operation Party Hard" on March 15 and "Operation Reconnect" on April 12.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/2008/05/scientology_sen.php |title=Queens Anonymous Member Gets a Letter from Scientologists |author=DeSio, John |date=May 6, 2008 |work=The Village Voice |accessdate=May 2, 2013 |archivedate=June 6, 2013 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130606073834/http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/2008/05/scientology_sen.php |url-status=live |df=mdy }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.news.com.au/technology/scientology-site-gets-a-facelift-after-protests/story-e6frfro0-1111115845068 |title=Scientology site gets a facelift after protests |author=Ramadge, Andrew |date=March 20, 2008 |publisher=news.com.au |accessdate=May 2, 2013 |archivedate=May 12, 2013 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130512223953/http://www.news.com.au/technology/scientology-site-gets-a-facelift-after-protests/story-e6frfro0-1111115845068 |url-status=live |df=mdy }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-16669103.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714224447/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-16669103.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 14, 2014 |title=Anger as police ban placards branding Scientology a cult |author=Howarth, Mark |date=June 1, 2008 |work=Sunday Herald |publisher= {{Subscription required|via=[[Software:HighBeam Research|HighBeam Research]]}}|accessdate=May 2, 2013}}</ref> However, by mid-year, they were drawing far fewer protesters, and many of the organizers in IRC channels had begun to drift away from the project.{{sfn|Olson|2012|p = 85}}

=== Operation Payback (2010) ===
By the start of 2009, Scientologists had stopped engaging with protesters and had improved online security, and actions against the group had largely ceased. A period of infighting followed between the politically engaged members (called "moralfags" in the parlance of 4chan) and those seeking to provoke for entertainment (trolls).{{sfn|Olson|2012|p = 93–94}} By September 2010, the group had received little publicity for a year and faced a corresponding drop in member interest; its raids diminished greatly in size and moved largely off of IRC channels, organizing again from the chan boards, particularly /b/.{{sfn|Olson|2012|p = 102}}

In September 2010, however, Anons became aware of Aiplex Software, an Indian software company that contracted with film studios to launch DDoS attacks on websites used by copyright infringers, such as [[Social:The Pirate Bay|The Pirate Bay]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-11371315 |title=Activists target recording industry websites |date=September 20, 2010 |accessdate=October 27, 2010 |publisher=BBC News}}</ref>{{sfn|Olson|2012|p = 102}} Coordinating through IRC, Anons launched a DDoS attack on September 17 that shut down Aiplex's website for a day. Primarily using LOIC, the group then targeted the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), successfully bringing down both sites.{{sfn|Olson|2012|p = 103}} On September 19, future LulzSec member Mustafa Al-Bassam (known as "Tflow") and other Anons hacked the website of Copyright Alliance, an anti-infringement group, and posted the name of the operation: "Payback Is A Bitch", or "Operation Payback" for short.{{sfn|Olson|2012|p = 104}} Anons also issued a press release, stating:

<blockquote>Anonymous is tired of corporate interests controlling the internet and silencing the people’s rights to spread information, but more importantly, the right to SHARE with one another. The RIAA and the MPAA feign to aid the artists and their cause; yet they do no such thing. In their eyes is not hope, only dollar signs. Anonymous will not stand this any longer.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2010/09/19/riaa-attack/ |title=RIAA Goes Offline, Joins MPAA As Latest Victim Of Successful DDoS Attacks |author=Tsotsis, Alexia |date=19 September 2010 |publisher=TechCrunch |accessdate=3 May 2013 |archivedate=April 5, 2013 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130405030301/http://techcrunch.com/2010/09/19/riaa-attack/ |url-status=live |df=mdy }}</ref></blockquote>

As IRC network operators were beginning to shut down networks involved in DDoS attacks, Anons organized a group of servers to host an independent IRC network, titled AnonOps.{{sfn|Olson|2012|p = 105}} Operation Payback's targets rapidly expanded to include the British law firm [[Organization:ACS:Law|ACS]],<ref name="theregister2">{{cite news |title=Piracy threats lawyer mocks 4chan DDoS attack |first=Chris |last=Williams |newspaper=The Register |date=September 22, 2010 |url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/09/22/acs_4chan/ |accessdate=October 22, 2010}}</ref> the Australian Federation Against Copyright Theft,<ref>{{cite news |title=Operation Payback directs DDoS attack at AFACT |first=Brett |last=Winterford |url=http://www.itnews.com.au/News/233573,operation-payback-directs-ddos-attack-at-afact.aspx |newspaper=iTnews |date=September 28, 2010 |accessdate=December 23, 2010}}</ref> the British nightclub Ministry of Sound,<ref name="theregister5">{{cite news |title=Ministry of Sound floored by Anonymous |first=John |last=Leydon |newspaper=The Register |date=October 4, 2010 |url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/10/04/ministry_of_sound_ddos/ |accessdate=October 22, 2010}}</ref> the Spanish copyright society Sociedad General de Autores y Editores,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/10/07/anonymous_ent_biz_ddos_hits_spain/ |title=Spanish entertainment industry feels wrath of Anonymous |first=John |last=Leyden |date=October 7, 2010 | accessdate=January 6, 2011 |publisher=The Register}}</ref> the U.S. Copyright Office,<ref name="cnet">{{cite web |url=http://news.cnet.com/8301-31001_3-20022264-261.html |title=FBI probes 4chan's 'Anonymous' DDoS attacks |first=Greg |last=Sandoval |publisher=CNET.com |date=November 9, 2010 |accessdate=December 23, 2010}}</ref> and the website of Gene Simmons of Kiss.<ref name="pandalabssecurity">{{cite news |title=4chan Users Organize Surgical Strike Against MPAA |newspaper=Pandalabs Security |first=Luis |last=Corrons |date=September 17, 2010 |url=http://pandalabs.pandasecurity.com/4chan-users-organize-ddos-against-mpaa/ |accessdate=October 22, 2010}}</ref> By October 7, 2010, total downtime for all websites attacked during Operation Payback was 537.55 hours.<ref name="pandalabssecurity" />

In November 2010, the organization [[Social:WikiLeaks|WikiLeaks]] began releasing hundreds of thousands of leaked U.S. diplomatic cables. In the face of legal threats against the organization by the U.S. government, Amazon.com booted WikiLeaks from its servers, and [[Company:PayPal|PayPal]], MasterCard, and [[Company:Visa Inc.|Visa]] cut off service to the organization.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-11935539 |title=Anonymous hacktivists say Wikileaks war to continue |date=December 9, 2010 |publisher=BBC News |accessdate=May 3, 2013 |archivedate=April 30, 2013 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130430044534/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-11935539 |url-status=live |df=mdy }}</ref> Operation Payback then expanded to include "Operation Avenge Assange", and Anons issued a press release declaring PayPal a target.{{sfn|Olson|2012|p = 110}} Launching DDoS attacks with the LOIC, Anons quickly brought down the websites of the PayPal blog; PostFinance, a Swiss financial company denying service to WikiLeaks; EveryDNS, a web-hosting company that had also denied service; and the website of U.S. Senator Joe Lieberman, who had supported the push to cut off services.{{sfn|Olson|2012|pp = 110–11}}

On December 8, Anons launched an attack against PayPal's main site. According to Topiary, who was in the command channel during the attack, the LOIC proved ineffective, and Anons were forced to rely on the [[Botnet|botnet]]s of two hackers for the attack, marshaling hijacked computers for a concentrated assault.{{sfn|Olson|2012|pp = 115–18}} Security researcher Sean-Paul Correll also reported that the "zombie computers" of involuntary botnets had provided 90% of the attack.{{sfn|Olson|2012|p = 117}} Topiary states that he and other Anons then "lied a bit to the press to give it that sense of abundance", exaggerating the role of the grassroots membership. However, this account was disputed.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/01/books/we-are-anonymous-by-parmy-olson.html |title=The Secret Lives of Dangerous Hackers |author=Maslin, Janet |date=May 31, 2012 |work=The New York Times |accessdate=May 3, 2013 |archivedate=May 28, 2014 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140528165502/http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/01/books/we-are-anonymous-by-parmy-olson.html?_r=0 |url-status=live |df=mdy }}</ref>

The attacks brought down PayPal.com for an hour on December 8 and another brief period on December 9.{{sfn|Olson|2012|pp = 117–19}} Anonymous also disrupted the sites for Visa and MasterCard on December 8.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/dec/08/wikileaks-visa-mastercard-operation-payback |title=WikiLeaks supporters disrupt Visa and MasterCard sites in 'Operation Payback' |author1=Addley, Esther |author2=Halliday, Josh |date=December 8, 2012 |work=The Guardian |accessdate=May 3, 2013 |archivedate=May 8, 2012 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120508002128/http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/dec/08/wikileaks-visa-mastercard-operation-payback |url-status=live |df=mdy }}</ref> Anons had announced an intention to bring down Amazon.com as well, but failed to do so, allegedly because of infighting with the hackers who controlled the botnets.{{sfn|Olson|2012|p = 178}} PayPal estimated the damage to have cost the company US$5.5 million. It later provided the IP addresses of 1,000 of its attackers to the FBI, leading to at least 14 arrests.{{sfn|Olson|2012|pp = 122, 129}} On Thursday, December 5, 2013, 13 of the PayPal 14 pleaded guilty to taking part in the attacks.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://news.cnet.com/8301-1009_3-57614906-83/anonymous-hackers-plead-guilty-to-2010-paypal-cyberattack/| author=Steven Musil| title=Anonymous hackers plead guilty to 2010 PayPal cyberattack| publisher=Cnet| date=December 8, 2013}}</ref>

=== 2011–2012 ===
[[File:AnonymousOccupy.jpg|thumb|A member holding an Anonymous flier at Occupy Wall Street, a protest that the group actively supported, September 17, 2011]]
In the years following Operation Payback, targets of Anonymous protests, hacks, and DDoS attacks continued to diversify. Beginning in January 2011, Anons took a number of actions known initially as [[Operation Tunisia]] in support of [[Social:Arab Spring|Arab Spring]] movements. Tflow created a script that Tunisians could use to protect their web browsers from government surveillance, while fellow future LulzSec member Hector Xavier Monsegur (alias "Sabu") and others allegedly hijacked servers from a London web-hosting company to launch a DDoS attack on Tunisian government websites, taking them offline. Sabu also used a Tunisian volunteer's computer to hack the website of Prime Minister Mohamed Ghannouchi, replacing it with a message from Anonymous.{{sfn|Olson|2012|pp = 141–45}} Anons also helped Tunisian dissidents share videos online about the uprising.<ref name="AJ19511">{{cite web|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2011/05/201151917634659824.html |title=Anonymous and the Arab uprisings |author=Ryan, Yasmine |date=May 19, 2011 |publisher=Al Jazeera |accessdate=May 5, 2013 |archivedate=April 9, 2013 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130409214434/http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2011/05/201151917634659824.html |url-status=live |df=mdy }}</ref> In Operation Egypt, Anons collaborated with the activist group [[Organization:Telecomix|Telecomix]] to help dissidents access government-censored websites.<ref name="AJ19511" /> Sabu and Topiary went on to participate in attacks on government websites in Bahrain, Egypt, Libya, Jordan, and Zimbabwe.{{sfn|Olson|2012|p = 148}}

Tflow, Sabu, Topiary, and Ryan Ackroyd (known as "Kayla") collaborated in February 2011 on a cyber-attack against Aaron Barr, CEO of the computer security firm HBGary Federal, in retaliation for his research on Anonymous and his threat to expose members of the group. Using a [[SQL injection]] weakness, the four hacked the HBGary site, used Barr's captured password to vandalize his Twitter feed with racist messages, and released an enormous cache of HBGary's e-mails in a [[Torrent file|torrent file]] on Pirate Bay.{{sfn|Olson|2012|pp = 10–24}} The e-mails stated that Barr and HBGary had proposed to [[Company:Bank of America|Bank of America]] a plan to discredit WikiLeaks in retaliation for a planned leak of Bank of America documents,{{sfn|Olson|2012|p = 200}} and the leak caused substantial public relations harm to the firm as well as leading one U.S. congressman to call for a congressional investigation.{{sfn|Olson|2012|pp = 161, 164}} Barr resigned as CEO before the end of the month.{{sfn|Olson|2012|p = 164}}

Several attacks by Anons have targeted organizations accused of homophobia. In February 2011, an open letter was published on AnonNews.org threatening the [[Religion:Westboro Baptist Church|Westboro Baptist Church]], an organization based in {{wipe|Kansas}} in the U.S. known for picketing funerals with signs reading "God Hates Fags".{{sfn|Olson|2012|pp = 176–77}} During a live radio current affairs program in which Topiary debated church member Shirley Phelps-Roper, Anons hacked one of the organization's websites.{{sfn|Olson|2012|pp = 178–88}} After the church announced its intentions in December 2012 to picket the funerals of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting victims, Anons published the names, phone numbers, and e-mail and home addresses of church members and brought down GodHatesFags.com with a DDoS attack.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2012/12/17/anonymous-vows-to-destroy-westboro-baptist-church-over-sandy-hook-picket-plans/ |title=Anonymous vows to 'destroy' Westboro Baptist Church over Sandy Hook picket plans |date=December 17, 2012 |publisher=The Raw Story |accessdate=May 5, 2013 |archivedate=May 25, 2013 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130525083639/http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2012/12/17/anonymous-vows-to-destroy-westboro-baptist-church-over-sandy-hook-picket-plans/ |url-status=live |df=mdy }}</ref> Hacktivists also circulated petitions to have the church's tax-exempt status investigated.<ref name="RT121712">{{cite web|url=http://rt.com/usa/westboro-church-anonymous-group-233 |title=Hacktivists strike Westboro Baptist Church over Newtown tragedy |date=December 17, 2012 |publisher=RT.com |accessdate=May 5, 2013 |archivedate=May 14, 2013 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130514095652/http://rt.com/usa/westboro-church-anonymous-group-233 |url-status=live |df=mdy}}</ref> In August 2012, Anons hacked the site of Ugandan Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi in retaliation for the Parliament of Uganda's consideration of an anti-homosexuality law permitting capital punishment.<ref name="BBC81612">{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-19281664 |title=Uganda prime minister hacked 'over gay rights' |date=August 16, 2012 |publisher=BBC News |accessdate=May 5, 2013 |archivedate=October 27, 2012 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121027232118/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-19281664 |url-status=live |df=mdy }}</ref>

In April 2011, Anons launched a series of attacks against [[Company:Sony|Sony]] in retaliation for trying to stop hacks of the [[Engineering:PlayStation 3|PlayStation 3]] game console. More than 100 million Sony accounts were compromised, and the Sony services Qriocity and PlayStation Network were taken down for a month apiece by cyberattacks.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-28794321.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714223817/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-28794321.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 14, 2014 |title=Sony caught up in cyber war with indignant hackers: ; Company with security once considered 'robust' now dealing with constant breaches |agency=Associated Press |date=May 30, 2011 |publisher= {{Subscription required|via=[[Software:HighBeam Research|HighBeam Research]]}}|accessdate=May 5, 2013}}</ref>

In August 2011, Anons launched an attack against BART in {{wipe|San Francisco}}, which they dubbed #OpBart. The attack, made in response to the killing of Charles Hill a month prior, resulted in customers' personal information leaked onto the group's website.<ref name="bart">{{cite web|title=BART website hacked, customer info leaked|url=http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/BART-website-hacked-customer-info-leaked-2335175.php|website=SFGate|accessdate=17 July 2017}}</ref>

[[File:Anonymous-Bruxelles.jpg|thumb|left|Anonymous protestors at the Brussels Stock Exchange, Belgium, January 2012]]
When the [[Social:Occupy Wall Street|Occupy Wall Street]] protests began in New York City in September 2011, Anons were early participants and helped spread the movement to other cities such as Boston.{{sfn|Kelly|2012|p = 1682}} In October, some Anons attacked the website of the [[Company:New York Stock Exchange|New York Stock Exchange]] while other Anons publicly opposed the action via Twitter.<ref name="Goldman">{{cite web|url=http://money.cnn.com/2012/01/20/technology/anonymous_hack/index.htm |title=Hacker group Anonymous is a nuisance, not a threat |author=Goldman, David |date=January 20, 2012 |publisher=CNN |accessdate=May 5, 2013 |archivedate=March 27, 2013 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130327004354/http://money.cnn.com/2012/01/20/technology/anonymous_hack/index.htm |url-status=live |df=mdy }}</ref> Some Anons also helped organize an Occupy protest outside the [[Company:London Stock Exchange|London Stock Exchange]] on May 1, 2012.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2012/may/01/occupy-movement-london-stock-exchange |title=Occupy movement takes over parts of London Stock Exchange |author=Malik, Shiv |date=May 1, 2012 |work=The Guardian |accessdate=May 5, 2013 |archivedate=February 2, 2013 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130202003157/http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/may/01/occupy-movement-london-stock-exchange |url-status=live |df=mdy }}</ref>

Anons launched Operation Darknet in October 2011, targeting websites hosting child pornography. In particular, the group hacked a child pornography site called "Lolita City" hosted by [[Freedom Hosting]], releasing 1,589 usernames from the site. Anons also said that they had disabled forty image-swapping pedophile websites that employed the anonymity network [[Software:Tor (anonymity network)|Tor]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://au.ibtimes.com/articles/391379/20121005/93-year-old-australian-faces-pedophilia-charges.htm#.UYXHPLXqmSo |title=93-Year-Old Australian Faces Pedophilia Charges in Thailand |author=Hernandez, Vittorio |date=October 5, 2012 |work=International Business Times |accessdate=May 5, 2013 |archivedate=July 23, 2013 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130723084300/http://au.ibtimes.com/articles/391379/20121005/93-year-old-australian-faces-pedophilia-charges.htm#.UYXHPLXqmSo |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref> In 2012, Anons leaked the names of users of a suspected child porn site in OpDarknetV2.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/47435855/ns/technology_and_science-security/t/anonymous-attacks-suspected-pedophiles-again/#.UYXHMrXqmSo |title=Anonymous Attacks Suspected Pedophiles Again |author=Liebowitz, Matt |date=May 15, 2012 |publisher=NBC News |accessdate=May 5, 2013 |archivedate=October 23, 2013 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131023062145/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/47435855/ns/technology_and_science-security/t/anonymous-attacks-suspected-pedophiles-again/ |url-status=live |df=mdy }}</ref> Anonymous launched the #OpPedoChat campaign on Twitter in 2012 as a continuation of Operation Darknet. In attempt to eliminate child pornography from the internet, the group posted the emails and IP addresses of suspected pedophiles on the online forum PasteBin.<ref>"Anonymous Targets Pedophiles Via #OpPedoChat Campaign". PCMAG. Retrieved 2016-10-28.</ref><ref>Steadman, Ian. "Anonymous launches #OpPedoChat, targets paedophiles". WIRED UK. Retrieved 2016-10-28.</ref>

In 2011, the Koch Industries website was attacked following their attack upon union members, resulting in their website being made inaccessible for 15 minutes. In 2013, one member, a 38-year-old truck driver, pleaded guilty when accused of participating in the attack for a period of one minute, and received a sentence of two years federal probation, and ordered to pay $183,000 restitution, the amount Koch stated they paid a consultancy organisation, despite this being only a denial of service attack.<ref>{{cite web|last=Plumlee |first=Rick |url=http://www.kansas.com/2013/12/02/3154632/wis-truck-driver-given-2-years.html |title=Wis. truck driver given 2 years probation for cyberattack on Koch Industries &#124; Wichita Eagle |publisher=Kansas.com |date=2013-12-02 |accessdate=2014-01-07}}</ref>

On January 19, 2012, the U.S. Department of Justice shut down the file-sharing site [[Company:Megaupload|Megaupload]] on allegations of copyright infringement. Anons responded with a wave of DDoS attacks on U.S. government and copyright organizations, shutting down the sites for the RIAA, MPAA, Broadcast Music, Inc., and the FBI.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://rt.com/usa/anonymous-barrettbrown-sopa-megaupload-241 |title=Internet strikes back: Anonymous' Operation Megaupload explained |date=January 20, 2012 |work=RT.com |accessdate=May 5, 2013 |archivedate=April 25, 2013 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130425135625/http://rt.com/usa/anonymous-barrettbrown-sopa-megaupload-241 |url-status=live |df=mdy}}</ref>

In April 2012, Anonymous hacked 485 Chinese government websites, some more than once, to protest the treatment of their citizens. They urged people to "fight for justice, fight for freedom, [and] fight for democracy".<ref>{{Cite web|title=Anonymous hacks Chinese government sites in protest, some still compromised|url=https://www.theverge.com/2012/4/5/2927853/anonymous-hack-chinese-government-sites|last=Sottek|first=T. C.|date=2012-04-05|website=The Verge|language=en|access-date=2020-06-01}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=BBC News - Chinese websites 'defaced in Anonymous attack'|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-17623939|date=April 5, 2012|publisher=Bbc.com|accessdate=January 13, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Anonymous hacks hundreds of Chinese government sites|url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/anonymous-hacks-hundreds-of-chinese-government-sites/|last=Protalinski|first=Emil|website=ZDNet|language=en|access-date=2020-06-01}}</ref>

In 2012, Anonymous launched Operation Anti-Bully: Operation Hunt Hunter in retaliation to Hunter Moore's revenge porn site, "Is Anyone Up?" Anonymous crashed Moore's servers and publicized much of his personal information online, including his social security number. The organization also published the personal information of Andrew Myers, the proprietor of "Is Anyone Back", a copycat site of Moore's "Is Anyone Up?"<ref>{{cite web|last=Roy |first=Jessica |url=http://betabeat.com/2012/12/anonymous-launches-ophunthunter-to-destroy-hunter-moore-and-his-revenge-porn-empire/ |title=Anonymous Hunts Revenge Porn Purveyor Hunter Moore |publisher=Betabeat |date=2012-12-04 |accessdate=2014-01-07}}</ref>

In response to Operation Pillar of Defense, a November 2012 Israeli military operation in the Gaza Strip, Anons took down hundreds of Israeli websites with DDoS attacks.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://gizmodo.com/5961399/anonymous-destroys-israel-by-taking-down-hundreds-of-websites-and-leaking-emails-and-passwords |title=Anonymous Targets Israel by Taking Down Hundreds of Websites and Leaking Emails and Passwords |author=Chan, Casey |date=November 16, 2012 |publisher=Gizmodo |accessdate=May 5, 2013 |archivedate=May 13, 2013 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130513073332/http://gizmodo.com/5961399/anonymous-destroys-israel-by-taking-down-hundreds-of-websites-and-leaking-emails-and-passwords |url-status=live |df=mdy }}</ref> Anons pledged another "[[OpIsrael|massive cyberassault]]" against Israel in April 2013 in retaliation for its actions in Gaza, promising to "wipe Israel off the map of the Internet".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/08/world/middleeast/pro-palestinian-hackers-attack-israeli-sites.html?_r=0 |title=Israel Says It Repelled Most Attacks on Its Web Sites by Pro-Palestinian Hackers |author=Kershner, Isabel |date=April 7, 2013 |work=The New York Times |accessdate=May 5, 2013 |archivedate=June 16, 2013 |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20130616051923/http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/08/world/middleeast/pro-palestinian-hackers-attack-israeli-sites.html?_r=1& |url-status=live }}</ref> However, its DDoS attacks caused only temporary disruptions, leading cyberwarfare experts to suggest that the group had been unable to recruit or hire botnet operators for the attack.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.csoonline.com/article/732757/experts-hope-for-another-failure-in-next-anonymous-attack |title=Experts hope for another failure in next Anonymous attack |author=Gonsalves, Antone |date=May 3, 2013 |publisher=CSO Online |accessdate=May 5, 2013 |archivedate=March 12, 2014 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140312212524/http://www.csoonline.com/article/732757/experts-hope-for-another-failure-in-next-anonymous-attack |url-status=live |df=mdy }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://computerworld.co.nz/news.nsf/security/anonymous-cyberattack-on-israel-finds-disputed-impact |title=Anonymous cyberattack on Israel finds disputed impact |author=Messmer, Ellen |date=May 5, 2013 |work=ComputerWorld |accessdate=May 5, 2013 |archivedate=July 3, 2013 |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20130703162034/http://computerworld.co.nz/news.nsf/security/anonymous-cyberattack-on-israel-finds-disputed-impact |url-status=dead |df=mdy }}</ref>

=== 2013 ===

==== Million Mask March ====
On 5 November 2013, Anonymous protesters gathered around the world for the Million Mask March. Demonstrations were held in 400 cities around the world to coincide with Guy Fawkes Night.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/nov/06/protesters-gather-million-mask-march|title=Protesters gather around the world for Million Mask March|newspaper=The Guardian|date=5 November 2013|accessdate=6 November 2013}}</ref> This has not been the only march; there have been quite a few others over the years, such as the 2015 march, which formed into a riot and went out of control in London, UK.

==== #OpOk ====
Operation Oklahoma was a Mutual Aid effort responding to the 2013 flash floods and wind storms in the United States.

==== Operation Safe Winter ====
Operation Safe Winter was an effort to raise awareness about homelessness through the collection, collation, and redistribution of resources. This program began on 7 November 2013<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dailydot.com/news/op-safe-winter-anonymous/|title=#OpSafeWinter: Anonymous fights homelessness worldwide|work=The Daily Dot}}</ref> after an online call to action from Anonymous UK. Three missions using a charity framework were suggested in the original global spawning a variety of direct actions from used clothing drives to pitch in community potlucks feeding events in the UK, US and Turkey.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://opsafewinter.org/?p%3D140 |title=Archived copy |accessdate=2014-01-10 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140110105231/http://opsafewinter.org/?p=140 |archivedate=January 10, 2014 }}</ref>

The #OpSafeWinter call to action quickly spread through the mutual aid communities like Occupy Wall Street<ref>{{cite web|url=http://occupywallst.org/forum/anon-opsafewinter-call-to-action-d26/|title=Forum Post: #Anon #OpSafeWinter Call to Action & New York #D26 Assembly - OccupyWallSt.org|publisher=Occupy Solidarity Network}}</ref> and its offshoot groups like the open-source-based OccuWeather.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://occupyweather.com/opsafewinter/ |title=Archived copy |accessdate=2014-01-10 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140110085649/http://occupyweather.com/opsafewinter/ |archivedate=January 10, 2014 }}</ref> With the addition of the long-term mutual aid communities of New York City and online hacktivists in the US, it took on an additional three suggested missions.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theidproject.org/blog/caroline-contillo/2013/12/30/opsafewinter-generosity-goes-viral|title=#OpSafeWinter: Generosity Goes Viral|work=The Interdependence Project}}</ref> Encouraging participation from the general public, this operation has raised questions of privacy and the changing nature of the Anonymous community's use of monikers. The project to support those living on the streets while causing division in its own online network has been able to partner with many efforts and organizations not traditionally associated with Anonymous or online activists.

=== 2014 ===
==== Shooting of Michael Brown ====
In the wake of the fatal police shooting of unarmed African-American Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, "Operation Ferguson"—a [[Hacktivism|hacktivist]] organization that claimed to be associated with Anonymous—organized cyberprotests against police, setting up a website and a Twitter account to do so.<ref name="waporiot">{{cite news |last=Bever |first=Lindsey|title=Amid Ferguson protests, hacker collective Anonymous wages cyberwar|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2014/08/13/amid-ferguson-protests-anonymous-hacktivists-wage-cyberwar/|work=The Washington Post|date=August 13, 2014|accessdate=August 13, 2014}}</ref> The group promised that if any protesters were harassed or harmed, they would attack the city's servers and computers, taking them offline.<ref name="waporiot" /> City officials said that e-mail systems were targeted and phones died, while the Internet crashed at the City Hall.<ref name="waporiot" /><ref name="stlouispostriot">{{cite news |last=Hunn |first=David |title=How computer hackers changed the Ferguson protests|url=https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/how-computer-hackers-changed-the-ferguson-protests/article_d81a1da4-ae04-5261-9064-e4c255111c94.html |newspaper=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|date=August 13, 2014|accessdate=August 13, 2014}}</ref> Prior to August 15, members of Anonymous corresponding with ''Mother Jones'' said that they were working on confirming the identity of the undisclosed police officer who shot Brown and would release his name as soon as they did.<ref name="Harkinson">{{cite news |url=https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2014/08/anonymous-ferguson-police-killing-unarmed-michael-brown |title=Anonymous' "Op Ferguson" Says It Will ID the Officer Who Killed Michael Brown |work=Mother Jones |date=August 13, 2014 |accessdate=August 13, 2014 |last=Harkinson |first=Josh}}</ref> On August 14, Anonymous posted on its Twitter feed what it claimed was the name of the officer involved in the shooting.<ref name="nytanon">{{cite news|last1=Bosman |first1=Julie |first2=Michael D. |last2=Shear |first3=Timothy |last3=Williams|title=Obama Calls for Open Inquiry Into Police Shooting of Teenager in Ferguson, Mo|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/15/us/ferguson-missouri-police-shooting.html|work=The New York Times|date=August 14, 2014|accessdate=August 14, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://stlouis.cbslocal.com/2014/08/14/anonymous-releases-alleged-name-of-officer-they-say-fatally-shot-michael-brown/ |title=Anonymous Releases Alleged Name Of Officer They Say Fatally Shot Michael Brown |publisher=KMOX News Radio 1120 |date=August 14, 2014 |accessdate=August 14, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140815034209/http://stlouis.cbslocal.com/2014/08/14/anonymous-releases-alleged-name-of-officer-they-say-fatally-shot-michael-brown/ |archive-date=August 15, 2014 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref> However, police said the identity released by Anonymous was incorrect.<ref>{{cite news |last=Pagliery |first=Jose |url=http://money.cnn.com/2014/08/14/technology/security/ferguson-anonymous |title=Ferguson police deny Anonymous' ID of alleged shooter |publisher=CNN Money |date=August 14, 2014 |accessdate=August 14, 2014}}</ref> Twitter subsequently suspended the Anonymous account from its service.<ref>{{cite news |last=Hunn |first=David |url=https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/twitter-suspends-anonymous-account/article_8602d482-e248-5a88-bd56-a417d638eff8.html |title=Twitter suspends Anonymous account : News |newspaper=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |date= |accessdate=August 15, 2014}}</ref>

It was reported on 19 November 2014 that Anonymous had declared cyber war on the [[Religion:Ku Klux Klan|Ku Klux Klan]] (KKK) the previous week, after the KKK had made death threats following the Ferguson riots. They hacked the KKK's Twitter account, attacked servers hosting KKK sites, and started to release the personal details of members.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/nov/19/hacker-hoaxer-whistleblower-spy-many-faces-anonymous-gabriella-coleman-review|title=Hacker, Hoaxer, Whistleblower, Spy: The Many Faces of Anonymous by Gabriella Coleman – review|author=Jamie Bartlett|work=the Guardian}}</ref>

==== Shooting of Tamir Rice ====

On November 24, 2014, Anonymous shut down the Cleveland city website and posted a video after Tamir Rice, a twelve-year-old boy armed only with a BB gun, was shot to death by a police officer in a Cleveland park.<ref name="tamir">{{cite news|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/grieving-dad-anonymous-lash-cleveland-cops-article-1.2021460|title=Grieving dad, Anonymous lash out at Cleveland cops following shooting death of boy, 12, armed with BB gun|publisher=New York Daily News|first=David|last=Boroff|date=November 24, 2014|accessdate=November 24, 2014}}</ref> Anonymous also used BeenVerified to uncover the phone number and address of a police officer involved in the shooting.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2014/11/anonymous_begins_looking_into.html|title=Anonymous begins looking into past of Timothy Loehmann, cop who fatally shot Tamir Rice|website=cleveland.com|last=Danylko|first=Ryllie|date=November 26, 2014|accessdate=February 15, 2014}}</ref>

=== 2015 ===
==== Charlie Hebdo shootings ====
In January 2015, Anonymous released a video and a statement via [[Company:Twitter|Twitter]] condemning the attack on ''[[Biography:Charlie Hebdo|Charlie Hebdo]]'', in which 12 people, including eight journalists, were fatally shot. The video, claiming that it is "a message for [[Religion:Al-Qaeda|al-Qaeda]], the [[Religion:Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant|Islamic State]] and other terrorists", was uploaded to the group's Belgian account.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/france/11335676/Hacktivists-Anonymous-says-it-will-avenge-Charlie-Hebdo-attacks-by-shutting-down-jihadist-websites.html|title='Hacktivist' group Anonymous says it would avenge Charlie Hebdo attacks by shutting down jihadist websites|publisher=The Telegraph|date=9 January 2015}}</ref> The announcement stated that "We, Anonymous around the world, have decided to declare war on you, the terrorists" and promises to avenge the killings by "shut[ting] down your accounts on all social networks."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://money.cnn.com/2015/01/09/technology/anonymous-charlie-hebdo-terrorists/index.html|title=Anonymous declares war over Charlie Hebdo attack|publisher=CNN Money|date=9 January 2015}}</ref> On January 12, they brought down a website that was suspected to belong to one of these groups.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Newsbeat|title=Hackers Anonymous 'disable extremist website'|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/30785773?ocid=canada_canada_ppc_outbrain|accessdate=16 January 2015|agency=BBC|date=12 January 2015}}</ref> Critics of the action warned that taking down extremists' websites would make them harder to monitor.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Newsbeat|title=Anonymous hackers 'declare war' on jihadists after France attacks|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/30755975|accessdate=16 January 2015|agency=BBC News|publisher=BBC|date=9 January 2015}}</ref>

====Anti-Islamic "Reclaim Australia" rally====
Anonymous opposed Anti-Islamic Reclaim Australia rallies and described it as "an extreme right-wing group inciting religious hatred." It also promised to organize counter-rallies on April 4, 2015.<ref>[https://www.rt.com/news/246437-reclaim-australia-rally-controversy/ Anti-Islamic marches to be held across Australia slammed as ‘racist’, counter protests planned] RT.com 3 Apr, 2015</ref>

====Operation CyberPrivacy====
On June 17, 2015, Anonymous claimed responsibility for a Denial of Service attack against Canadian government websites in protest of the passage of bill C-51—an anti-terror legislation that grants additional powers to Canadian intelligence agencies.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Fekete|first1=Jason|title=Government of Canada websites under attack, hacker groupAnonymous claims responsibility|url=http://news.nationalpost.com/news/canada/government-of-canada-websites-under-attack-environment-canada-foreign-affairs-down|accessdate=18 June 2015|agency=The National Post|date=17 June 2015}}</ref> The attack temporarily affected the websites of several federal agencies.

====Operation KKK====
On 28 October 2015, Anonymous announced that it would reveal the names of up to 1,000 members of the [[Religion:Ku Klux Klan|Ku Klux Klan]] and other affiliated groups, stating in a press release, "You are terrorists that hide your identities beneath sheets and infiltrate society on every level. The privacy of the Ku Klux Klan no longer exists in cyberspace."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.foxnews.com/tech/2015/10/29/anonymous-intends-to-unveil-names-up-to-1000-ku-klux-klan-members.html|title=Anonymous intends to unveil names of up to 1,000 Ku Klux Klan members|publisher=FOX News|date=October 29, 2015}}</ref> On November 2, a list of 57 phone numbers and 23 email addresses (that allegedly belong to KKK members) was reportedly published and received media attention.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Grenoble|first1=Ryan|title=Anonymous Begins Revealing Information About Alleged Ku Klux Klan Members|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/anonymous-reveals-kkk-members-info_56378176e4b063179912f5a4|accessdate=November 3, 2015|work=Huffington Post}}</ref> However, a tweet from the "@Operation_KKK" Twitter account the same day denied it had released that information<ref>{{cite news|title=The Short List: Anonymous goes after KKK; VW in another emissions stink; 'Brangelina' open up|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2015/11/02/evening-news-roundup-monday/75043122/|accessdate=November 2, 2015|work=[[Software:USA Today|USA Today]]|date=November 2, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite Twitter|title=#ICYMI #OpKKK was in no way involved with today's release of information that incorrectly outed several politicians|user=Operation_KKK|number=661319846206967808|date=November 2, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite Twitter|title=This account has NOT YET released any information. We believe in due diligence and will NOT recklessly involve innocent individuals #OpKKK|number=661272341318471680|user=Operation_KKK|date=November 2, 2015}}</ref> The group stated it planned to, and later did, reveal the names on November 5.<ref>{{cite Twitter|number=662380844711972865|user=Operation_KKK|title=OFFICIAL #OpKKK #HoodsOff 2015 Data Release. http://pastebin.com/wbvP95wg With Love, Anonymous|date=November 5, 2015}}</ref>

====#OpSaudi====
Since 2013, Saudi Arabian [[Hacktivism|hacktivists]] have been targeting government websites protesting the actions of the regime.<ref>{{cite news|title=#OpSaudi : Anonymous launched cyber attack on Saudi Government site |url=http://www.ehackingnews.com/2013/05/opsaudi-anonymous-launched-cyber-attack.html|accessdate=22 August 2015|date=16 May 2013}}</ref> These actions have seen attacks supported by the possibly [[Religion:Iran|Iran]]ian backed [[Yemen Cyber Army]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Frenkel|first1=Sheera|title=Meet The Mysterious New Hacker Army Freaking Out The Middle East|url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/sheerafrenkel/who-is-the-yemen-cyber-army#.yd4gmgd3B|accessdate=22 August 2015|date=24 June 2015}}</ref>

====#OpISIS====
In 2015, an offshoot of Anonymous self-described as Ghost Security or GhostSec started targeting [[Religion:Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant|Islamic State]]-affiliated websites and social media handles.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Can Cyber Activists Chase ISIS off Twitter?|url = https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2015/10/anonymous-activists-isis-twitter/409312/|website = The Atlantic|publisher = |accessdate = 2015-11-15|language = en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title = Anonymous vs. the Islamic State|url = https://foreignpolicy.com/2015/11/13/anonymous-hackers-islamic-state-isis-chan-online-war/|website = Foreign Policy|accessdate = 2015-11-15}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title = Ghost Security Hackers, Offshoot Of 'Anonymous,' Claim They Disrupted ISIS Attack By Intercepting Twitter Messages|url = http://www.ibtimes.com/ghost-security-hackers-offshoot-anonymous-claim-they-disrupted-isis-attack-2077993|website = International Business Times|accessdate = 2015-11-15}}</ref>

====#OpParis====
In November 2015, Anonymous announced a major, sustained operation against ISIS following the November 2015 Paris attacks, declaring, "Anonymous from all over the world will hunt you down. You should know that we will find you and we will not let you go."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/anonymous-hackers-declare-war-on-isis/|title=Anonymous hackers' group declares war on ISIS|website=cbsnews.com|language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-15}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rt.com/news/322427-anonymous-isis-twitter-accounts/|title=#OpParis: Anonymous takes down 5,500 ISIS Twitter accounts|work=RT English}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/article/34836400/anonymous-declares-war-on-islamic-state|title=Anonymous 'declares war' on Islamic State|work=bbc.co.uk}}</ref> ISIS responded on [[Software:Telegram|Telegram]] by calling them "idiots", and asking "What they {{sic|gonna to}} hack?"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://fortune.com/2015/11/17/isis-anonymous-idiots/|title=ISIS Calls Anonymous 'Idiots' As Cyber War Heats Up – Fortune|work=Fortune}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://thehill.com/policy/cybersecurity/260470-isis-gives-tips-for-avoiding-anonymous-hackers|title=ISIS calls Anonymous 'idiots,' offers tips to evade hackers|work=TheHill}}</ref> By the next day, however, Anonymous claimed to have taken down 3,824 pro-ISIS [[Company:Twitter|Twitter]] accounts, and by the third day, more than 5,000,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.softpedia.com/news/one-day-later-anonymous-already-takes-down-3-824-pro-isis-twitter-accounts-496258.shtml|title=One Day Later, Anonymous Already Takes Down 3,824 Pro-ISIS Twitter Accounts – UPDATE|author=Catalin Cimpanu|date=November 16, 2015|work=softpedia}}</ref> and to have doxxed recruiters.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/paris-attacks-anonymous-operation-isis-activists-begin-leaking-details-of-suspected-extremist-a6737291.html|title='Operation Isis': Anonymous activists begin leaking suspected extremist Twitter account information|author=Andrew Griffin|date=November 19, 2015|work=The Independent}}</ref> A week later, Anonymous increased their claim to 20,000 accounts and released a list of the accounts.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Anonymous Has Now Taken Down 20,000 ISIS Twitter Accounts, Promises to Go On|url = http://news.softpedia.com/news/anonymous-has-now-taken-down-20-000-isis-twitter-accounts-promises-to-go-on-496505.shtml|website = softpedia|accessdate = 2015-11-21}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url = http://pastebin.com/raw.php?i=HXjgGiHp|title = ISIS 20,000+ Twitter Accounts Down|date = |accessdate = 11 November 2015|website = Pastebin|publisher = }}</ref> The list included the Twitter accounts of Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, ''The New York Times'' and BBC News. The BBC reported that most of the accounts on the list appeared to be still active.<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/article/34919781/anonymous-anti-islamic-state-list-features-obama-and-bbc-news|title = Anonymous 'anti-Islamic State list' features Obama and BBC News|date = |accessdate = 26 November 2015|publisher = BBC News}}</ref> A spokesman for Twitter told ''[[Company:The Daily Dot|The Daily Dot]]'' that the company is not using the lists of accounts being reported by Anonymous, as they have been found to be “wildly inaccurate” and include accounts used by academics and journalists.<ref name="anonvsisis3">{{cite web |url=http://www.dailydot.com/politics/twitter-isnt-reading-anonymous-list-isis-accounts/ |title=Twitter: Anonymous's lists of alleged ISIS accounts are 'wildly inaccurate' |website=The Daily Dot |date=20 November 2015|access-date=22 November 2015}}</ref>

==== #OpNASADrones ====
In 2015, a group that claims affiliation with Anonymous group, calling themselves as AnonSec, claimed to have hacked and gathered almost 276 GB of data from NASA servers including NASA flight and radar logs and videos, and also multiple documents related to ongoing research.<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.anonews.co/anon-release-leaked-nasa-information/|title = Anonymous release leaked NASA information|accessdate = 6 November 2015|publisher = Anonews|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160202135111/http://www.anonews.co/anon-release-leaked-nasa-information/|archive-date = February 2, 2016|url-status = dead|df = mdy-all}}</ref> AnonSec group also claimed gaining access of a Global Hawk Drone of NASA, and released some video footage purportedly from the drone's cameras. A part of the data was released by AnonSec on Pastebin service, as an Anon Zine.<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://pastebin.com/pm1WLXQj/|title = OpNasaDrones Zine #AnonSec|date = |accessdate =11 January 2016|publisher = none}}</ref> NASA has denied the hack, asserting that the control of the drones were never compromised, but has acknowledged that the photos released along with the content are real photographs of its employees, but that most of these data are already available in the [[Social:Public domain|public domain]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/thomasbrewster/2016/02/02/anonymous-claims-to-hack-nasa-drone/#1abed198c763 |title=NASA Brushes Off Claims One Of Its Drones Was Hacked |website=Forbes |date=February 2016 |access-date=18 February 2016}}</ref>

=== 2016 ===
==== #BoycottThailand: Thailand jail hack ====
The Blink Hacker Group, associating themselves with the Anonymous group, claimed to have hacked the Thailand prison websites and servers.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.softpedia.com/news/anonymous-leaks-databases-for-100-thai-prison-websites-499941.shtml |title=Anonymous Leaks Databases for 100 Thai Prison Websites |website=Softpedia News |date=February 2016 |access-date=21 February 2016}}</ref> The compromised data has been shared online, with the group claiming that they give the data back to Thailand Justice and the citizens of Thailand as well. The hack was done in response to news from Thailand about the mistreatment of prisoners in Thailand.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1453808903 |title=Koh Tao Murders: Lawyer Alleges Prison Mistreatment |website= Khaosod English |date=26 January 2016 |access-date=20 February 2016}}</ref>

====2016 US presidential election====
In March 2016, Anonymous was reported to have declared war on Donald Trump.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://europe.newsweek.com/anonymous-hackers-declare-total-war-donald-trump-april-fools-day-437027|title=Anonymous hackers are declaring war on Donald Trump|publisher=}}</ref> However, the "Anonymous Official" [[Company:YouTube|YouTube]] channel released a video denouncing #OpTrump as an operation that "goes against everything Anonymous stands for" in reference to censorship and added "we are for everyone letting their voices be heard, even, if the person at hand&nbsp;... is a monster."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ECT82UjG0x4 |title=Anonymous - Elucidating #OpISIS and #OpTrump |work=YouTube |accessdate=31 March 2016}}</ref>{{third-party inline|date=December 2018}}

Anonymous was also reported to have declared war on Hillary Clinton.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://constitution.com/hackers-anonymous-declare-war-hillary-clinton-campaign/|title=Hackers at #Anonymous Declare WAR on Hillary Clinton Campaign!|date=2016-10-14|accessdate=2016-12-11|work=Constitution.com|publisher="The Constitution"|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161221204006/http://constitution.com/hackers-anonymous-declare-war-hillary-clinton-campaign/|archive-date=December 21, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> Various outlets claiming to represent Anonymous have released attacks on the Clinton campaign.<ref>{{cite web|title=Anonymous - Message to Hillary Clinton|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTMaIX_JPE4|accessdate=2016-12-11}}</ref>

In late 2017, [[Social:QAnon|QAnon]], a pro-Trump group claiming to be the "real" Anonymous, first emerged on 4chan. In response, anti-Trump members of Anonymous warned that QAnon was stealing the collective's branding.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.engadget.com/2018/08/10/anonymous-deals-with-its-qanon-branding-problem/|title=Anonymous deals with its QAnon branding problem|author=Violet Blue|date=2018-10-08|publisher=Engadget}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://techcrunch.com/2018/08/07/anonymous-vows-to-take-down-q/|title=Anonymous vows to take down Q|author=John Biggs|date=2018-08-07|publisher=TechCrunch}}</ref><ref name=indyqanon />

==== South African corruption ====
A group calling themselves ''Anonymous Africa'' launched a number of DDoS attacks on websites associated with the controversial South African [[Biography:Gupta family|Gupta family]] in mid-June 2016. Gupta-owned companies targeted included the websites of Oakbay Investments, The New Age, and ANN7. The websites of the [[Company:South African Broadcasting Corporation|South African Broadcasting Corporation]] and a political parties [[Social:Economic Freedom Fighters|Economic Freedom Fighters]] and Zimbabwe's Zanu-PF were also attacked for “nationalist socialist rhetoric and politicising racism.”<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.fin24.com/Tech/Companies/exclusive-why-anonymous-hacked-the-sabc-guptas-20160617|title=EXCLUSIVE: Why Anonymous 'hacked' the SABC, Gupta websites|website=Fin24|access-date=2016-06-19}}</ref>

===2020===
====United Nations hack====
In February 2020, Anonymous hacked the {{wipe|United Nations}}' website and created a page for Taiwan, a country which has not had a seat at the UN since 1971. The hacked page featured the Flag of Taiwan, the KMT emblem, a Taiwan Independence flag, and the Anonymous logo along with a caption. The hacked server belonged to the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Everington |first1=Keoni |title=Anonymous creates pro-Taiwan page inside UN website |url=https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3871244 |website=taiwannews.com.tw |publisher=Taiwan News |accessdate=5 February 2020}}</ref>

==== Killing of George Floyd ====
In the wake of protests across the U.S following the killing of George Floyd, Anonymous released a video on Facebook as well as sending it out to the Minneapolis Police Department on May 28, 2020, titled "Anonymous Message To The Minneapolis Police Department", in which they state that they are going to seek revenge on the Minneapolis Police Department, and "expose their crimes to the world".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/anonews.co/videos/anonymous-message-to-the-minneapolis-police-department/285581555919237/|title=Anonymous Message To The Minneapolis Police Department|via=www.facebook.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Griffin |first1=Andrew |title='Anonymous' is back and is supporting the Black Lives Matter protests |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/anonymous-george-floyd-black-lives-matter-facebook-twitter-video-k-pop-a9542666.html |website=The Independent |accessdate=June 1, 2020 |language=en |date=1 June 2020}}</ref> According to [[Company:Bloomberg L.P.|Bloomberg]], the video was initially posted on an unconfirmed Anonymous Facebook page on May 28.<ref>{{cite web
|url= https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-05-31/anonymous-says-it-ll-expose-minneapolis-police-
|title= Anonymous Vows to 'Expose' Minneapolis Police, Site Attacked»
|author= By Kartikay Mehrotra  and Jamie Tarabay
|date= May 31, 2020
|publisher= Bloomberg
|accessdate=Jun 3, 2020
|archivedate= 
|archiveurl= 
|url-status=live 
|df=mdy }}</ref>

According to BBC News, that same Facebook page had no notoriety and published videos of dubious content linked to UFOs and "China's plan to take over the world". It gained repercussions after the video about George Floyd was published<ref name=BBC>{{cite web
|url= https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-52879000
|title= George Floyd: Anonymous hackers re-emerge amid US unrest»
|author= David Molloy & Joe Tidy
|date= Jun 1, 2020
|publisher= BBC
|accessdate=Jun 3, 2020
|archivedate= 
|archiveurl= 
|url-status=live 
|df=mdy }}</ref> and the Minneapolis police website, which is responsible for the police officer, was down.<ref>{{cite web
|url= http://atarde.uol.com.br/politica/noticias/2129012-hacker-anonymous-cita-bolsonaro-e-sugere-investigacao-da-relacao-do-presidente-com-trump
|title="Hacker Anonymous cita Bolsonaro e sugere investigação da relação do presidente com Trump"
|author= 
|date= May 31, 2020
|publisher= A Tarde
|accessdate=Jun 3, 2020
|archivedate= 
|archiveurl= 
|url-status=live 
|df=mdy }}</ref> Later, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz said that every computer in the region suffered a sophisticated attack.<ref>{{cite web
|url= https://gq.globo.com/amp/Noticias/Tecnologia/noticia/2020/06/5-vezes-em-que-o-anonymous-chocou-o-mundo-com-invasoes-na-internet.html
|title= 5 vezes em que o mundo anônimo escolhe o mundo com invasões na internet»
|author= Rafael Monteiro
|date= Jun 1, 2020
|publisher= GQ Brazil
|accessdate=Jun 3, 2020
|archivedate= 
|archiveurl= 
|url-status=live 
|df=mdy }}</ref> According to BBC News, the attack on the police website using DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) was unsophisticated.<ref name=BBC/>

According to researcher Troy Hunt, these breaches of the site may have happened from old credentials. Regarding unverified Twitter posts that also went viral, where radio stations of police officers playing music and preventing communication are shown, experts point out that this is unlikely to be due to a hack attack - if they are real.<ref name=BBC/> Later, it was confirmed by CNET that the leaks made from the police website are false and that someone is taking advantage of the repercussions of George Floyd's death to spread misinformation.<ref>{{cite web
|url= https://www.cnet.com/google-amp/news/the-anonymous-minneapolis-hack-comes-from-old-breaches-repackaged-in-misinformation/
|title= The Anonymous Minneapolis 'hack' comes from old breaches repackaged in misinformation
|author= Alfred Ng
|date= June 1, 2020
|publisher= CNET
|accessdate=Jun 3, 2020
|archivedate= 
|archiveurl= 
|url-status=live 
|df=mdy }}</ref>

==== Trump-Epstein rape lawsuit and other high-profile accusations ====
On May 31, 2020, a person or group claiming to be part of the Anonymous collective tweeted that they have uploaded a number of documents to the [[Company:Scribd|Scribd]] account [https://www.scribd.com/user/278592775/OpDeathEaters OpDeathEaters] that contain incriminating evidence against U.S. President Donald J. Trump and Jeffrey Epstein in multiple cases of paedophilia, rape and sexual assault. According to what they found Epstein and Trump were co-defendants in the one case.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Donald Trump & Jeffrey Epstein Rape Lawsuit and Affidavits|url=https://www.scribd.com/doc/316341058/Donald-Trump-Jeffrey-Epstein-Rape-Lawsuit-and-Affidavits|last=|first=|date=20 May 2016|website=Scribd|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=}}</ref>{{third-party inline|date=June 2020}}

They further claimed to have evidence that the British royal family had Princess Diana murdered because she had incriminating evidence against the royal family's involvement in a sex-trafficking ring. Other high-profile accusations involved [[Biography:Bill Gates|Bill Gates]] and Naomi Campbell. Anonymous, issued an open letter to Gates. In the letter, Anonymous claimed Gates had advocated for strict measures, including a surveillance system that could track infected people. Anonymous said: "In the midst of a historical pandemic, much of the world is looking to you for solutions, and it seems that this is no mistake, because you have positioned yourself as the [[Biography:Nostradamus|Nostradamus]] of disease." Gates recently suggested implementing a "national tracking system similar to {{wipe|South Korea}}" during an online Ask Me Anything (AMA) session on [[Company:Reddit|Reddit]]. Gates also advocated for social distancing as a viable way to reduce the number of infections.{{citation needed|date=June 2020}} Later the same day most of these tweets disappeared from their accounts, but continued circulating as screenshots on Twitter, Facebook and Reddit.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Mukherjee |first1=Raka |title=Anonymous is Back With 'Proof' Against Trump, Epstein, Royal Family and the Internet is Here For It |url=https://www.news18.com/news/buzz/anonymous-is-back-and-has-proof-against-trump-epstein-the-royal-family-and-many-more-2646765.html |accessdate=1 June 2020 |work=CNN-News18 |date=1 June 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Princess Diana reportedly ordered to kill by royal family: Anonymous |url=https://www.explica.co/princess-diana-reportedly-ordered-to-kill-by-royal-family-anonymous/ |accessdate=1 June 2020 |work=Explica |date=1 June 2020}}</ref>

==== Buffalo New York Website Hacking ====
On June 6, 2020, the Buffalo NY website was supposedly hacked by Anonymous.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Anonymous Strike Back At Buffalo PD After Shoving Incident|url=https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/anonymous-strike-back-at-buffalo-pd-after-shoving-incident-news.111974.html|access-date=2020-06-06|website=HotNewHipHop|language=en}}</ref> While the website was up and running after a few minutes, Anonymous tweeted again on twitter urging that it be taken down.<ref>{{Cite web|title=https://twitter.com/groupanon/status/1269351212043902976|url=https://twitter.com/groupanon/status/1269351212043902976|access-date=2020-06-06|website=Twitter|language=en}}</ref> A few minutes later, the Buffalo NY website was taken down again.

== Related groups ==

===LulzSec===
In May 2011, the small group of Anons behind the HBGary Federal hack—including Tflow, Topiary, Sabu, and Kayla—formed the hacker group "Lulz Security", commonly abbreviated "LulzSec". The group's first attack was against Fox.com, leaking several passwords, LinkedIn profiles, and the names of 73,000 ''X Factor'' contestants. In May 2011, members of Lulz Security gained international attention for hacking into the American Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) website. They stole user data and posted a fake story on the site that claimed that rappers Tupac Shakur and Biggie Smalls were still alive and living in New Zealand.<ref>{{cite news|title=Hackers pirate PBS website, post fake story about Tupac still alive|url=http://www.cnn.com/2011/TECH/web/05/30/pbs.hackers/index.html?iid=EL|publisher=CNN|accessdate=June 3, 2011}}</ref> LulzSec stated that some of its hacks, including its attack on PBS, were motivated by a desire to defend WikiLeaks and its informant Chelsea Manning.<ref>{{cite news|last=Olson|first=Parmy|title=Interview With PBS Hackers: We Did It For 'Lulz And Justice'|url=https://blogs.forbes.com/parmyolson/2011/05/31/interview-with-pbs-hackers-we-did-it-for-lulz-and-justice/|work=Forbes|accessdate=June 3, 2011|date=May 31, 2011}}</ref>

In June 2011, members of the group claimed responsibility for an attack against Sony Pictures that took data that included "names, passwords, e-mail addresses, home addresses and dates of birth for thousands of people."<ref>{{cite news|last=Pepitone |first=Julianne |title=Group claims fresh hack of 1 million Sony accounts Money |url=http://money.cnn.com/2011/06/02/technology/sony_lulz_hack/ |publisher=CNN |date=June 2, 2011 |accessdate=June 3, 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110818213115/http://money.cnn.com/2011/06/02/technology/sony_lulz_hack/ |archivedate=August 18, 2011 }}</ref> In early June, LulzSec hacked into and stole user information from the [[Social:Internet pornography|pornography website]] www.pron.com. They obtained and published around 26,000 e-mail addresses and passwords.<ref>{{cite news|last=Thomas |first=Keir |title=Porn Site Users Beware: Hacker Group LulzSec May Have Posted Your Email Address |url=http://www.pcworld.com/article/230122/porn_site_users_beware_hacker_group_lulzsec_may_have_posted_your_email_address.html |accessdate=June 11, 2012 |newspaper=PC World |date=June 11, 2012 |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20120907212709/http://www.pcworld.com/article/230122/porn_site_users_beware_hacker_group_lulzsec_may_have_posted_your_email_address.html |archivedate=September 7, 2012 |url-status=live |df=mdy }}</ref>
On June 14, 2011, LulzSec took down four websites by request of fans as part of their "Titanic Take-down Tuesday". These websites were ''[[Software:Minecraft|Minecraft]]'', ''[[Software:League of Legends|League of Legends]]'', ''The Escapist'', and IT security company ''FinFisher''.<ref>{{cite news |last=Bright |first=Peter |title=Titanic Takeover Tuesday: LulzSec's busy day of hacking escapades |url=https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2011/06/titanic-takeover-tuesday-lulzsecs-busy-day-of-hacking-escapades.ars |accessdate=June 14, 2011 |newspaper=[[Ars Technica]] |date=June 14, 2011 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110617030647/http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2011/06/titanic-takeover-tuesday-lulzsecs-busy-day-of-hacking-escapades.ars?comments=1 |archivedate=June 17, 2011 |url-status=live |df=mdy }}</ref> They also attacked the login servers of the multiplayer online game ''EVE Online'', which also disabled the game's front-facing website, and the ''League of Legends'' login servers. Most of the takedowns were performed with DDoS attacks.<ref>{{cite news|last=Peckham |first=Matt |title=LulzSec Knocks 'Minecraft,' 'EVE Online,' 'League Of Legends' and 'The Escapist' Offline |url=http://techland.time.com/2011/06/14/lulzsec-knocks-minecraft-eve-online-league-of-legends-and-the-escapist-offline/ |accessdate=June 14, 2011 |newspaper={{wipe|Time (magazine)}} |date=June 14, 2011 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110616110019/http://techland.time.com/2011/06/14/lulzsec-knocks-minecraft-eve-online-league-of-legends-and-the-escapist-offline/ |archivedate=June 16, 2011 |location=New York City |url-status=live |df=mdy }}</ref>

LulzSec also hacked a variety of government-affiliated sites, such as chapter sites of ''[[Organization:InfraGard|InfraGard]]'', a non-profit organization affiliated with the FBI.<ref name="twsj">{{cite news|last1=Morse |last2=Sherr |first1=Andrew |first2=Ian |title=For Some Hackers, The Goal Is Just To Play A Prank |url=https://www.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20110605-702801.html |accessdate=June 6, 2011 |newspaper=The Wall Street Journal |page=B1 |date=June 6, 2011 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110609014101/http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20110605-702801.html |archivedate=June 9, 2011 }}</ref> The group leaked some of InfraGard member e-mails and a database of local users.<ref>{{cite news|title=LulzSec claims to have hacked FBI-affiliated website|url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/technology/2012/06/lulz-security-claims-to-have-hacked-fbi-affiliated-website-.html|work=LA Times|accessdate=June 4, 2012}}{{dead link|date=March 2015}}</ref> On June 13, LulzSec released the e-mails and passwords of a number of users of [http://senate.gov/ senate.gov], the website of the U.S. Senate.<ref>{{cite news|last=Ogg |first=Erica |title=LulzSec targets videogame maker ZeniMax Media |url=http://news.cnet.com/8301-31021_3-20070873-260/lulzsec-targets-videogame-maker-zenimax-media/ |accessdate=June 13, 2011 |date=June 13, 2012 |agency=CNET.com. CBS Interactive |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20120715025034/http://news.cnet.com/8301-31021_3-20070873-260/lulzsec-targets-videogame-maker-zenimax-media/ |archivedate=July 15, 2012 |url-status=live |df=mdy }}</ref>
On June 15, LulzSec launched an attack on cia.gov, the public website of the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency, taking the website offline for several hours with a distributed denial-of-service attack.<ref>{{cite news |title=CIA website hacked; LulzSec takes credit (again) |url=http://news.consumerreports.org/electronics/2011/06/cia-website-hacked-lulzsec-takes-credit-again.html |accessdate=June 16, 2011 |newspaper=Consumer Reports |date=June 16, 2012 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110618033144/http://news.consumerreports.org/electronics/2011/06/cia-website-hacked-lulzsec-takes-credit-again.html |archivedate=June 18, 2011 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref> On December 2, an offshoot of LulzSec calling itself LulzSec Portugal attacked several sites related to the government of Portugal. The websites for the Bank of Portugal, the Assembly of the Republic, and the Ministry of Economy, Innovation and Development all became unavailable for a few hours.<ref>{{cite news|title=Hackers voltam a atacar sites portugueses |url=http://www.tvi24.iol.pt/tecnologia/lulzsec-hackers-tvi24/1304669-4069.html |accessdate=December 3, 2012 |newspaper=TVI 24 |date=December 2, 2012 |agency=Televisão Independente |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111203083010/http://www.tvi24.iol.pt/tecnologia/lulzsec-hackers-tvi24/1304669-4069.html |archivedate=December 3, 2011 |language=Portuguese |url-status=live |df=mdy }}</ref>

On June 26, 2011, the core LulzSec group announced it had reached the end of its "50 days of lulz" and was ceasing operations.<ref>{{cite news|last=Weisenthal |first=Joe |title=Notorious Hacker Group LulzSec Just Announced That It's Finished |url=http://www.businessinsider.com/lulzsec-finished-2011-6 |accessdate=June 25, 2011 |newspaper=Business Insider |date=June 25, 2011 |agency=Silicon Alley Insider |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110627005600/http://www.businessinsider.com/lulzsec-finished-2011-6 |archivedate=June 27, 2011 |url-status=live |df=mdy }}</ref> Sabu, however, had already been secretly arrested on June 7 and then released to work as an FBI informant. His cooperation led to the arrests of Ryan Cleary, James Jeffery, and others.<ref name="lulzsec_sabu_freedom">Thomson, Iain. "[https://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/08/23/lulzsec_sabu_freedom/ LulzSec sneak Sabu buys six more months of freedom]." ''The Register''. August 23, 2012.</ref> Tflow was arrested on July 19, 2011,<ref name="tflow">{{cite news|last=Kaplan |first=Jeremy |title=Leading Member of LulzSec Hacker Squad Arrested in London |url=http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2011/07/19/leading-member-lulzsec-hacker-squad-arrested-in-london/ |accessdate=July 20, 2011 |newspaper=Fox News Channel |date=July 19, 2011 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720070005/http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2011/07/19/leading-member-lulzsec-hacker-squad-arrested-in-london/ |archivedate=July 20, 2011 |location=New York City |url-status=live |df=mdy }}</ref> Topiary was arrested on July 27,<ref name="topiaryarrest">{{cite news|title=Man arrested over computer hacking claims |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-14315442 |accessdate=July 27, 2011 |newspaper=BBC News |date=July 27, 2011 |agency=BBC |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110727170818/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-14315442 |archivedate=July 27, 2011 |location=London |url-status=live |df=mdy }}</ref> and Kayla was arrested on March 6, 2012.<ref name="Sabufox">{{cite news|last=Winter |first=Jana |title=Infamous international hacking group LulzSec brought down by own leader |url=http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2012/03/06/hacking-group-lulzsec-swept-up-by-law-enforcement/ |accessdate=March 13, 2012 |newspaper=Fox News Channel |date=March 6, 2012 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120306152006/http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2012/03/06/hacking-group-lulzsec-swept-up-by-law-enforcement/ |archivedate=March 6, 2012 |location=New York City |url-status=live |df=mdy }}</ref> Topiary, Kayla, Tflow, and Cleary pleaded guilty in April 2013 and were scheduled to be sentenced in May 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-22214506 |title=Kretsinger, Sony hacker Recursion, jailed for year |date=April 19, 2013 |publisher=BBC News |accessdate=May 5, 2013 |archivedate=May 9, 2013 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130509011356/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-22214506 |url-status=live |df=mdy }}</ref> In April 2013, Australian police arrested the alleged LulzSec leader Aush0k, but subsequent prosecutions failed to establish police claims.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/25/world/asia/australia-arrests-self-proclaimed-head-of-hacking-group.html?_r=0 |title=Australia Arrests the Professed Head of LulzSec, Which Claims a C.I.A. Hacking |author=Siegel, Matt |date=April 24, 2013 |work=The New York Times |accessdate=May 6, 2013 |archivedate=June 30, 2013 |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20130630021834/http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/25/world/asia/australia-arrests-self-proclaimed-head-of-hacking-group.html?_r=1& |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-11-10/afp-methods-questioned-as-hacker-claims-he-was-wrongly-accused/5879380|title='LulzSec hacker' says police claims based on Facebook joke|last=Duffy|first=Conor|last2=McGregor|first2=Jeanavive|date=2014-11-10|website=ABC News|language=en-AU|access-date=2020-04-17}}</ref>

===AntiSec===
{{main|Operation AntiSec}}
Beginning in June 2011, hackers from Anonymous and LulzSec collaborated on a series of cyber attacks known as "Operation AntiSec". On June 23, in retaliation for the passage of the immigration enforcement bill Arizona SB 1070, LulzSec released a cache of documents from the Arizona Department of Public Safety, including the personal information and home addresses of many law enforcement officers.<ref>{{cite news|last=Tsotsis|first=Alexia|title=LulzSec Releases Arizona Law Enforcement Data In Retaliation For Immigration Law|url=https://techcrunch.com/2011/06/23/lulzsec-releases-arizona-law-enforcement-data-in-retaliation-for-immigration-law/|accessdate=June 23, 2011|newspaper=TechCrunch|date=June 23, 2011}}</ref> On June 22, LulzSec Brazil took down the websites of the Government of Brazil and the President of Brazil.<ref>{{cite news|last=Emery|first=Daniel|title=LulzSec hits Brazilian websites|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-13878888|accessdate=June 22, 2011|newspaper=BBC |date=June 22, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Clark|first=Jack|title=LulzSec takes down Brazil government sites|url=http://news.cnet.com/8301-1009_3-20073219-83/lulzsec-takes-down-brazil-government-sites/|accessdate=June 22, 2011|newspaper=CNet|date=June 22, 2011}}</ref> Later data dumps included the names, addresses, phone numbers, Internet passwords, and [[Social:Social Security number|Social Security number]]s of police officers in Arizona,<ref name="arizona2">{{cite news |last=Albanesius |first=Chloe |title=LulzBoat Sails On: Anonymous Dumps More Arizona Data |url=https://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2387817,00.asp |accessdate=July 5, 2011 |newspaper=PC Magazine |date=June 29, 2011 |agency=Ziff Davis |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111214142840/http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2387817,00.asp |archivedate=December 14, 2011 |url-status=live |df=mdy }}</ref> Missouri,<ref>{{cite news|last=Usigan |first=Ysolt |title=Online security breach! Hackers leak social security numbers of cops in Missouri |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/8301-501465_162-20087410-501465.html |accessdate=August 5, 2011 |newspaper=CBS News |date=August 3, 2011 |agency=CBS |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110804172334/http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-501465_162-20087410-501465.html |archivedate=August 4, 2011 |location={{wipe|New York City}} |url-status=live |df=mdy }}</ref> and Alabama.<ref>{{cite news|last=Kelly |first=Meghan |title=Anonymous releases private police information in name of Occupy Wall Street |url=https://venturebeat.com/2011/10/21/anonymous-occupy-wall-street-police/ |accessdate=October 22, 2011 |newspaper=VentureBeat |date=October 21, 2011 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111022152147/http://venturebeat.com/2011/10/21/anonymous-occupy-wall-street-police/ |archivedate=October 22, 2011 |url-status=live |df=mdy }}</ref> AntiSec members also stole police officer credit card information to make donations to various causes.<ref name="ccn">{{cite news|last=Mills |first=Elinor |title=AntiSec hackers post stolen police data as revenge for arrests |url=http://news.cnet.com/8301-27080_3-20089054-245/antisec-hackers-post-stolen-police-data-as-revenge-for-arrests/ |accessdate=August 6, 2011 |newspaper=CNET |date=August 6, 2011 |agency=CBS Interactive |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110810042422/http://news.cnet.com/8301-27080_3-20089054-245/antisec-hackers-post-stolen-police-data-as-revenge-for-arrests/ |archivedate=August 10, 2011 |url-status=live |df=mdy }}</ref>

On July 18, LulzSec hacked into and vandalized the website of British newspaper ''[[Social:The Sun (United Kingdom)|The Sun]]'' in response to a [[Social:News International phone hacking scandal|phone-hacking scandal]].<ref name="Gayomail">{{cite news|last=Gayomail |first=Chris |title=LulzSec Hacks 'News of the World' and 'The Sun,' Plants Fake Murdoch Death Story |url=http://techland.time.com/2011/07/18/lulzsec-hacks-news-of-the-world-and-the-sun-plants-fake-murdoch-death-story/ |accessdate=July 18, 2011 |newspaper={{wipe|Time (magazine)}} |date=July 18, 2011 |agency=Time Inc. |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720025516/http://techland.time.com/2011/07/18/lulzsec-hacks-news-of-the-world-and-the-sun-plants-fake-murdoch-death-story/ |archivedate=July 20, 2011 |location={{wipe|New York City}} |url-status=live |df=mdy }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Rovzar |first=Chris |title=Website of Murdoch's Sun Hacked |url=https://nymag.com/daily/intel/2011/07/website_of_murdochs_sun_hacked.html |accessdate=July 18, 2011 |newspaper=New York Magazine |date=July 18, 2011 |agency=New York Media Holdings |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721104502/http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2011/07/website_of_murdochs_sun_hacked.html |archivedate=July 21, 2011 |location={{wipe|New York City}} |url-status=live |df=mdy }}</ref> Other targets of AntiSec actions have included FBI contractor ManTech International,<ref>{{cite news |last=Hachman |first=Mark |title=Anonymous Publishes Internal Documents from Govt. Contractor ManTech |url=https://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2389447,00.asp |accessdate=July 29, 2011 |newspaper=PC Magazine |date=July 29, 2011 |agency=Ziff Davis |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121014044147/http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2389447,00.asp |archivedate=October 14, 2012 |url-status=live |df=mdy }}</ref> computer security firm Vanguard Defense Industries,<ref>{{cite news|last=Ragan |first=Steve |title=Vanguard Defense Industries compromised by AntiSec |url=http://www.thetechherald.com/article.php/201133/7514/Vanguard-Defense-Industries-compromised-by-AntiSec |accessdate=August 18, 2011 |newspaper=The Tech Herald |date=August 16, 2011 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110821232933/http://www.thetechherald.com/article.php/201133/7514/Vanguard-Defense-Industries-compromised-by-AntiSec |archivedate=August 21, 2011 |page=1 |url-status=dead |df=mdy }}</ref> and defense contractor [[Company:Booz Allen Hamilton|Booz Allen Hamilton]], releasing 90,000 military e-mail accounts and their passwords from the latter.<ref>{{cite news|last=Gerwirtz |first=David |title=Military Meltdown Monday: 90,000 military email profiles released by AntiSec |url=https://www.zdnet.com/blog/government/military-meltdown-monday-90000-military-email-profiles-released-by-antisec/10580 |accessdate=July 12, 2011 |newspaper=[[ZDNet]] |date=July 11, 2011 |agency=CBS Interactive |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715010614/http://www.zdnet.com/blog/government/military-meltdown-monday-90000-military-email-profiles-released-by-antisec/10580 |archivedate=July 15, 2011 |url-status=dead |df=mdy }}</ref>

In December 2011, AntiSec member "sup_g" (alleged by the U.S. government to be Jeremy Hammond) and others hacked Stratfor, a U.S.-based intelligence company, vandalizing its web page and publishing 30,000 credit card numbers from its databases.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2012/03/inside-the-hacking-of-stratfor-the-fbis-case-against-antisec-member-anarchaos/ |title=Inside the hacking of Stratfor: the FBI's case against Antisec member Anarchaos |author=Gallagher, Sean |date=March 6, 2012 |publisher=Ars technica |accessdate=May 5, 2013 }}</ref> AntiSec later released millions of the group's e-mails to Wikileaks.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2013/may/04/security-alert-war-in-cyberspace |title=Security alert: notes from the frontline of the war in cyberspace |author=Ronson, Jon |date=May 3, 2013 |work=The Guardian |accessdate=May 5, 2013 |archivedate=May 5, 2013 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130505001253/http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2013/may/04/security-alert-war-in-cyberspace |url-status=live |df=mdy }}</ref>

==Arrests and trials==
Since 2009, dozens of people have been arrested for involvement in Anonymous cyberattacks, in countries including the U.S., UK, Australia, the Netherlands, Spain, and Turkey.{{sfn|Olson|2012|p = 355}} Anons generally protest these prosecutions and describe these individuals as martyrs to the movement.{{sfn|Olson|2012|p = 356}} The July 2011 arrest of LulzSec member Topiary became a particular rallying point, leading to a widespread "Free Topiary" movement.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-33103299.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714225035/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-33103299.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 14, 2014 |title=Scots hacker admits breaking into the CIA |author=Munro, Alistair |date=June 26, 2012 |work=The Scotsman |publisher= {{Subscription required|via=[[Software:HighBeam Research|HighBeam Research]]}}|accessdate=May 5, 2013}}</ref>

The first person to be sent to jail for participation in an Anonymous DDoS attack was Dmitriy Guzner, an American 19-year-old. He pleaded guilty to "unauthorized impairment of a protected computer" in November 2009 and was sentenced to 366 days in U.S. federal prison.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2009/11/verona_man_admits_hacking_chur.html |title=Verona man admits role in attack on Church of Scientology's websites |date=November 16, 2009 |work=The Star-Ledger |accessdate=May 5, 2013 |archivedate=July 8, 2013 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130708175852/http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2009/11/verona_man_admits_hacking_chur.html |url-status=live |df=mdy }}</ref>{{sfn|Olson|2012|p = 89}}

On June 13, 2011, officials in Turkey arrested 32 individuals that were allegedly involved in DDoS attacks on Turkish government websites. These members of Anonymous were captured in different cities of Turkey including Istanbul and [[Place:Ankara|Ankara]]. According to ''PC Magazine'', these individuals were arrested after they attacked websites as a response to the Turkish government demand to ISPs to implement a system of filters that many have perceived as censorship.<ref>{{cite news|last=Albanesius |first=Chloe |url=https://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2386803,00.asp |title=Turkey Arrests 32 'Anonymous' Members & Opinion |publisher=PCMag.com |date=June 13, 2011 |accessdate=August 30, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.eltiempo.com/mundo/europa/detienen-en-turquia-a-32-presuntos-miembros-de-anonymous_9607324-4 |title=Detienen en Turquía a 32 presuntos miembros de 'Anonymous' – Noticias de Europa – Mundo |publisher=Eltiempo.Com |accessdate=August 30, 2011 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130530022238/http://www.eltiempo.com/mundo/europa/detienen-en-turquia-a-32-presuntos-miembros-de-anonymous_9607324-4 |archivedate=May 30, 2013 |df=mdy-all }}</ref>

Chris Doyon (alias "Commander X"), a self-described leader of Anonymous, was arrested in September 2011 for a cyberattack on the website of Santa Cruz County, California.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.cnet.com/8301-27080_3-20111057-245/alleged-commander-x-anonymous-hacker-pleads-not-guilty/ |title=Alleged 'Commander X' Anonymous hacker pleads not guilty |author=Elinor Mills |date=September 23, 2011 |publisher=Cnet |accessdate=May 5, 2013 |archivedate=February 9, 2012 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120209013355/http://news.cnet.com/8301-27080_3-20111057-245/alleged-commander-x-anonymous-hacker-pleads-not-guilty/ |url-status=live |df=mdy }}</ref><ref name="CommX" /> He jumped bail in February 2012 and fled across the border into Canada.<ref name="CommX">{{cite web|url=https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2012/12/anon-on-the-run-how-commander-x-jumped-bai/3/ |title=Anon on the run: How Commander X jumped bail and fled to Canada |author=Nate Anderson |date=December 11, 2012 |publisher=Ars Technica |accessdate=May 5, 2013 |archivedate=June 6, 2013 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130606092453/http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2012/12/anon-on-the-run-how-commander-x-jumped-bai/3/ |url-status=live |df=mdy }}</ref>

In September 2012, journalist and Anonymous associate Barrett Brown, known for speaking to media on behalf of the group, was arrested hours after posting a video that appeared to threaten FBI agents with physical violence. Brown was subsequently charged with 17 offenses, including publishing personal credit card information from the Stratfor hack.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2013/mar/20/barrett-brown-anonymous-pr-federal-target |title=How Barrett Brown went from Anonymous's PR to federal target |author=Gallagher, Ryan |date=March 20, 2013 |work=The Guardian |accessdate=May 5, 2013 |archivedate=May 1, 2013 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130501200642/http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2013/mar/20/barrett-brown-anonymous-pr-federal-target |url-status=live |df=mdy }}</ref>

===Operation Avenge Assange===
Several law enforcement agencies took action after Anonymous' Operation Avenge Assange.<ref name="Operation Avenge Assange">{{cite news|title=Anonymous attacks PayPal in 'Operation Avenge Assange'|url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/12/06/anonymous_launches_pro_wikileaks_campaign/|newspaper=The Register|date=December 6, 2010}}</ref> In January 2011, the British police arrested five male suspects between the ages of 15 and 26 with suspicion of participating in Anonymous DDoS attacks.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/2011/01/27/idINIndia-54454720110127 |title=UK police arrest WikiLeaks backers for cyber attacks |agency=Reuters |date= January 27, 2011|accessdate=August 30, 2011}}</ref> During July 19–20, 2011, as many as 20 or more arrests were made of suspected Anonymous hackers in the US, UK, and Netherlands. According to the statements of U.S. officials, suspects' homes were raided and suspects were arrested in Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Washington DC, Florida, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Mexico, and Ohio. Additionally, a 16-year-old boy was held by the police in south London on suspicion of breaching the Computer Misuse Act 1990, and four were held in the Netherlands.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-14212110 |title=Police arrest 'hackers' in US, UK, Netherlands |publisher=BBC |date=July 19, 2011 |accessdate=August 30, 2011| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20110728192542/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-14212110| archivedate= July 28, 2011 | url-status= live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author=Greenberg, Andy |url=https://blogs.forbes.com/andygreenberg/2011/07/19/anonymous-arrests-continue-lulzsec-leader-claims-hes-not-affected/ |title=Fourteen Anonymous Hackers Arrested For "Operation Avenge Assange," LulzSec Leader Claims He's Not Affected – Forbes |work=Forbes |date=July 19, 2011 |accessdate=August 30, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/breaking-news/anonymous-hackers-arrested-in-us-sweep/story-e6frf7jx-1226097971794 |title='Anonymous' hackers arrested in US sweep |work=Herald Sun |location=Australia |date=July 20, 2011 |accessdate=August 30, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2011/07/19/exclusive-fbi-search-warrants-nationwide-hunt-anonymous/ |title=16 Suspected 'Anonymous' Hackers Arrested In Nationwide Sweep |publisher=Fox News Channel |date=April 7, 2010 |accessdate=August 30, 2011| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20110729011420/http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2011/07/19/exclusive-fbi-search-warrants-nationwide-hunt-anonymous/| archivedate= July 29, 2011 | url-status= live}}</ref>

AnonOps admin Christopher Weatherhead (alias "Nerdo"), a 22-year-old who had reportedly been intimately involved in organising DDoS attacks during "Operation Payback",<ref name="Anonymous jailed">{{cite news|last=Halliday|first=Josh|title=Anonymous hackers jailed for cyber attacks|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2013/jan/24/anonymous-hackers-jailed-cyber-attacks|accessdate=April 30, 2013|newspaper=The Guardian|date=January 24, 2013}}</ref> was convicted by a UK court on one count of conspiracy to impair the operation of computers in December 2012. He was sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment. Ashley Rhodes, Peter Gibson, and another male had already pleaded guilty to the same charge for actions between August 2010 and January 2011.<ref name="Anonymous jailed" /><ref name="Sniffed out">{{cite web|url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/12/14/uk_anon_investigation/ |title=UK cops: How we sniffed out convicted AnonOps admin 'Nerdo' |author=Leyden, John |date=December 14, 2012 |work=The Register |accessdate=April 19, 2013 |archivedate=April 16, 2013 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130416060442/http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/12/14/uk_anon_investigation/ |url-status=live |df=mdy }}</ref>

== Analysis ==
Evaluations of Anonymous' actions and effectiveness vary widely. In a widely shared post, blogger Patrick Gray wrote that private security firms "secretly love" the group for the way in which it publicises cyber security threats.{{sfn|Olson|2012|pp = 309–310}} Anonymous is sometimes stated to have changed the nature of protesting,<ref name="CBC" /><ref name="Coleman" /> and in 2012, ''{{wipe|Time (magazine)}}'' called it one of the "100 most influential people" in the world.<ref name="autogenerated1" />

In 2012, Public Radio International reported that the U.S. [[Organization:National Security Agency|National Security Agency]] considered Anonymous a potential national security threat and had warned the president that it could develop the capability to disable parts of the U.S. power grid.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pri.org/stories/politics-society/government/nsa-declares-anonymous-a-threat-to-national-security-8559.html |title=National Security Agency calls hacktivist group 'Anonymous' a threat to national security |date=February 27, 2012 |publisher=Public Radio International |accessdate=May 5, 2013 |archivedate=July 4, 2012 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120704042532/http://www.pri.org/stories/politics-society/government/nsa-declares-anonymous-a-threat-to-national-security-8559.html |url-status=live |df=mdy }}</ref> In contrast, CNN reported in the same year that "security industry experts generally don't consider Anonymous a major player in the world of cybercrime" due the group's reliance on DDoS attacks that briefly disabled websites rather than the more serious damage possible through hacking. One security consultant compared the group to "a jewelry thief that drives through a window, steal jewels, and rather than keep them, waves them around and tosses them out to a crowd ... They're very noisy, low-grade crimes."<ref name="Goldman" /> In its ''2013 Threats Predictions'' report, [[Company:McAfee|McAfee]] wrote that the technical sophistication of Anonymous was in decline and that it was losing supporters due to "too many uncoordinated and unclear operations".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mcafee.com/us/resources/reports/rp-threat-predictions-2013.pdf |title=2013 Threats Predictions |publisher=McAfee |accessdate=May 5, 2013 |archivedate=March 8, 2013 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130308062804/http://www.mcafee.com/us/resources/reports/rp-threat-predictions-2013.pdf |url-status=live |df=mdy }}</ref>

Graham Cluley, a security expert for [[Company:Sophos|Sophos]], argued that Anonymous' actions against child porn websites hosted on a [[Darknet|darknet]] could be counterproductive, commenting that while their intentions may be good, the removal of illegal websites and sharing networks should be performed by the authorities, rather than Internet vigilantes.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/10/24/anonymous_fight_child_abuse_network/|title=Anonymous shuts down hidden child abuse hub|last=Leyden|first=John |date=October 24, 2011|work=The Register|accessdate=January 25, 2012}}</ref>
Some commentators also argued that the DDoS attacks by Anonymous following the January 2012 [[Stop Online Piracy Act]] protests had proved counterproductive. Molly Wood of CNET wrote that "[i]f the SOPA/PIPA protests were the Web's moment of inspiring, non-violent, hand-holding civil disobedience, #OpMegaUpload feels like the unsettling wave of car-burning hooligans that sweep in and incite the riot portion of the play."<ref name="CNET12">{{cite news | last = Wood | first = Molly |  date = January 19, 2012 | title = Anonymous goes nuclear; everybody loses? | publisher = CNET | url = http://news.cnet.com/8301-31322_3-57362437-256/anonymous-goes-nuclear-everybody-loses/ | accessdate =January 21, 2012 }}</ref> Dwight Silverman of the ''Houston Chronicle'' concurred, stating that "Anonymous' actions hurt the movement to kill SOPA/PIPA by highlighting online lawlessness."<ref>{{cite news|last=Jonsson |first=Patrik |date=January 21, 2012 |title=SOPA: Feds go after Megaupload as Congress reviews anti-piracy bills |work=The Christian Science Monitor |url=http://www.alaskadispatch.com/article/sopa-feds-go-after-megaupload-congress-reviews-anti-piracy-bills |accessdate=January 22, 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120123214325/http://www.alaskadispatch.com/article/sopa-feds-go-after-megaupload-congress-reviews-anti-piracy-bills |archivedate=January 23, 2012 |df=mdy }}</ref> The [[Organization:Oxford Internet Institute|Oxford Internet Institute]]'s Joss Wright wrote that "In one sense the actions of Anonymous are themselves, anonymously and unaccountably, censoring websites in response to positions with which they disagree."<ref name="BBC120">{{cite news | last = Kelion | first = Leo | date = January 20, 2012 | title = Hackers retaliate over Megaupload website shutdown |publisher=BBC News | url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-16646023 | accessdate =January 21, 2012 }}</ref>

Gabriella Coleman has compared the group to the [[Social:Trickster|trickster]] [[Social:Archetype|archetype]]<ref name="Anon101">{{cite web|url=https://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2011/11/anonymous-101/all/ |title=Anonymous 101: Introduction to the Lulz |author=Norton, Quinn |date=November 8, 2011 |work=Wired |accessdate=May 5, 2013 |archivedate=April 5, 2013 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130405002007/http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2011/11/anonymous-101/all |url-status=live |df=mdy }}</ref> and said that "they dramatize the importance of anonymity and privacy in an era when both are rapidly eroding. Given that vast databases track us, given the vast explosion of surveillance, there's something enchanting, mesmerizing and at a minimum thought-provoking about Anonymous' interventions".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blog.ted.com/2012/06/27/peeking-behind-the-curtain-at-anonymous-gabriella-coleman-at-tedglobal-2012/ |title=Peeking behind the curtain at Anonymous: Gabriella Coleman at TEDGlobal 2012 |author=Walters, Helen |date=June 27, 2012 |publisher=TED |accessdate=May 5, 2013 |archivedate=May 12, 2013 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130512175225/http://blog.ted.com/2012/06/27/peeking-behind-the-curtain-at-anonymous-gabriella-coleman-at-tedglobal-2012/ |url-status=live |df=mdy }}</ref> When asked what good Anonymous had done for the world, Parmy Olson replied:
<blockquote>In some cases, yes, I think it has in terms of some of the stuff they did in the Middle East supporting the pro-democracy demonstrators. But a lot of bad things too, unnecessarily harassing people – I would class that as a bad thing. DDOSing the CIA website, stealing customer data and posting it online just for shits and giggles is not a good thing.<ref name="Olson" /></blockquote>

Quinn Norton of ''Wired'' wrote of the group in 2011:
<blockquote>I will confess up front that I love Anonymous, but not because I think they're the heroes. Like Alan Moore's character V who inspired Anonymous to adopt the Guy Fawkes mask as an icon and fashion item, you're never quite sure if Anonymous is the hero or antihero. The trickster is attracted to change and the need for change, and that's where Anonymous goes. But they are not your personal army – that's Rule 44 – yes, there are rules. And when they do something, it never goes quite as planned. The internet has no neat endings.<ref name="Anon101" /></blockquote>

Furthermore, Landers assessed the following in 2008:
<blockquote>Anonymous is the first internet-based super-consciousness. Anonymous is a group, in the sense that a flock of birds is a group. How do you know they’re a group? Because they’re travelling in the same direction. At any given moment, more birds could join, leave, peel off in another direction entirely.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Caneppele |first1=Stefano |first2=Francesco |last2=Calderoni |date= 2013-10-30|title=Organized Crime, Corruption and Crime Prevention |url=https://books.google.com/?id=UTG8BAAAQBAJ&pg=PA235&dq="420chan" |location= |publisher= |page=235 |isbn=978-3-319-01839-3 |access-date=28 March 2015 }}</ref></blockquote>

==Media portrayal==
Sam Esmail, the creator of the [[Company:USA Network|USA Network]] show ''Mr. Robot'', said in an interview with ''Motherboard'' that he was inspired by Anonymous when creating the hacktivist drama.<ref>"The Creator of 'Mr. Robot' Explains Its Hacktivist and Cult Roots". Motherboard. Retrieved 2016-10-28.</ref> Furthermore, ''Wired'' calls the "Omegas", a fictitious hacker group in the show, "a clear reference to the Anonymous offshoot known as LulzSec".<ref name="wired_lulzsec">{{cite web
  | last = Zetter
  | first = Kim
  | title = Mr. Robot Is the Best Hacking Show Yet—But It's Not Perfect
  | publisher = Wired
  | date = 8 July 2015
  | url = https://www.wired.com/2015/07/mr-robot-fact-check/
  | format =
  | doi =
  | accessdate = 5 January 2018 }}</ref> A member of Anonymous called ''Mr. Robot'' "the most accurate portrayal of security and hacking culture ever to grace the screen".<ref name="anonymous_ibtimes">{{cite web
  | last = Agard
  | first = Chancellor
  | title = Why USA Network's 'Mr. Robot' Is The Most Realistic Depiction Of Hacking On Television
  | publisher = International Business Times
  | date = 22 July 2015
  | url = http://www.ibtimes.com/why-usa-networks-mr-robot-most-realistic-depiction-hacking-television-2020213
  | format =
  | doi =
  | accessdate = 5 January 2018}}</ref> In the TV series ''Elementary'' a hacktivist collective called "Everyone" plays a recurring role; there are several hints and similarities to Anonymous.

==See also==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}'''Memetic persona'''
* Luther Blissett (nom de plume)
* Crowd psychology
* John Doe
* Proteus effect

'''Composition'''
* [[Emergent organization]]
* [[Social:Fourth-generation warfare|Fourth-generation warfare]]
* [[Physics:Self-organization|Self-organization]]
* [[Spontaneous order]]
* [[Social:Adhocracy|Adhocracy]]

{{col-2}}
'''Activism'''
* Electronic civil disobedience
* [[Social:Leaderless resistance|Leaderless resistance]]
* [[Philosophy:Streisand effect|Streisand effect]]

'''Other related articles'''
* Anti-mask laws
* [[Organization:CyberBerkut|CyberBerkut]]
* Derp (hacker group)
* [[LulzRaft]]
* [[Philosophy:Panopticon|Panopticon]]
* Securax
* [[Social:RedHack|RedHack]]
* ''We Are Legion: The Story of the Hacktivists''
{{col-end}}

== References ==

=== Notes ===
{{notelist}}

=== Citations ===
{{reflist|30em}}

=== Bibliography ===
* {{cite book|last=Coleman|first=Gabriella|title=Hacker, Hoaxer, Whistleblower, Spy: The Many Faces of Anonymous|url=https://archive.org/details/2014TheManyFacesOfAnonymous|date=November 4, 2014|publisher=Verso Books|isbn=978-1781685846|ref=harv}}
* {{cite book|last=Firer-Blaess|first=Sylvain|title=The Collective Identity of Anonymous: Web of Meanings in a Digitally Enabled Movement|publisher=Acta Universitatis Upsaliensis|location=Uppsala|date=2016|pages=220|isbn=978-91-554-9602-9|url=http://www.diva-portal.se/smash/get/diva2:926671/FULLTEXT01.pdf|accessdate=October 5, 2016}}
* {{cite journal |last1=Kelly |first1=Brian |year=2012 |title=Investing in a Centralized Cybersecurity Infrastructure: Why 'Hacktivism' can and should influence cybersecurity reform |journal=Boston University Law Review |volume=92 |issue=5 |pages=1663–1710 |doi= |url=http://www.bu.edu/law/central/jd/organizations/journals/bulr/volume92n4/documents/KELLY.pdf |accessdate=May 2, 2013|ref=harv}}
* {{cite book|last=Olson|first=Parmy|title=We Are Anonymous: Inside the Hacker World of LulzSec, Anonymous, and the Global Cyber Insurgency|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ncGVPtoZPHcC|accessdate=May 2, 2013|date=June 5, 2012|publisher=Hachette Digital, Inc.|isbn=978-0-316-21353-0|ref=harv}}

==External links==
{{Anonymous and the Internet}}
{{Hacking in the 2010s}}
{{Internet slang}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Anonymous (Group)}}
[[Category:Cyberattacks]]
[[Category:Internet culture]]
[[Category:Internet memes]]
[[Category:Internet trolling]]
[[Category:Organizations (Social)]]
[[Category:Organizations|Social]]

{{Sourceattribution|Anonymous (group)|1}}