ISIS attacks Paris, Anonymous attacks ISIS, and ISIS calls them names.
In what seems to be out of a script from a B-list movie, “the” hacktivist group Anonymous has declared war on ISIS. This news has circulated around for a while now, but even if you missed it initially, evaluating the current play-by-play in their “war” is important to understand what is actually being accomplished.
Backing things up, Anonymous has evolved from internet pranksters to a activist hacker organization (hence hacktivist). They have been involved in a slew of mischief from harassing and protesting Scientology to “unhooding” KKK members earlier this year. After the terrorist attacks in Paris on November 13th killing over 100 people, Anonymous declared they would work to wipe ISIS off the internet.
Critics of Anonymous initially bashed their “declaration of war“ and ultimately refused to believe anything substantial would happen as a result. As of last year, as many as 3,000 Westerners were fighting alongside ISIS without ever having to leave their country for recruitment. Social media is ISIS’s most powerful tool of recruitment and organizing. They have also hijacked twitter topics to broadcast their propaganda. Just two days after declaring cyber war, more than 5,000 Twitter accounts have been removed— a week later around 20,000. Attack plans that have been uncovered have been reported, but not announced publicly. The group says insisting previously reported attack plans were not from them.
To counter their attacks, ISIS has openly called Anonymous “idiots,” asking “What are they going to hack?” Despite shrugging off the attacks, ISIS has released a short and sweet “guide” to help their members keep their Twitter accounts afloat including the insightful ”do not open any any kind of links unless u r sure from the source.” As a response,anonymous has released their own guide to hacking ISIS.
It is important to take anything you read on the internet with a grain of salt though, so please try to avoid mass hysteria every time some internet prankster makes a convincing video.