The Anonymous group Ghost Sec, whose stated goal is to “eliminate the online presence of Islamic extremist groups such as Islamic State (IS), Al-Qaeda, Al-Nusra, Boko Haram and Al-Shabaab,” has taken down a large online ISIS site and replaced it with a message telling readers to “Enhance your calm.”
“Enhance your calm. Too many people are into this ISIS-stuff. Please gaze upon this lovely ad so we can upgrade our infrastructure to give you ISIS content you all so desperately crave,” read the message according to the Independent.
According to the Independent,
Before the site was taken down, it was understood to be one of a number of sites that were sharing and copying Isis propaganda so that it could avoid detection and being shut down. Many such unofficial sites have been created on the dark web, according to security blogger Scot Terban, though a large number of them appear to be unofficial and largely disorganised attempts.
While the ad for pharmaceuticals is certainly an odd and novel approach, members of the hacking collective have had a devastating effect on the terrorist group’s online presence.
Last week, the Free Thought Project reported on Anonymous’ move to publish a ‘Guide to Fighting ISIS Online.’
The release of this guide enlisted the talents of amateur hackers worldwide, and the results have been nothing short of phenomenal.
The guide was published in an IRC (internet relay chat) channel by a member of the hacker group. That member released the guide, along with the following message.
“Instead of sitting idle in the [chat] channel or lurking around and doing nothing, you can benefit greatly from the different tools and guides that have been provided to you,” he wrote. “Your contribution means a lot and we encourage you to partake in all of the Op’s activities if you can, the more the merrier.”
Tens of thousands of ISIS affiliated social media accounts have been eviscerated since the guide went public.
As the fight against terror becomes a vigilante operation, one thing is certain: Anonymous is here to stay and a force to surely be reckoned with.
How delightful! Anonymous, a Reality born of a fiction movie ‘V For Vendetta’ and acting very much like agents of E.L.F…the ‘Erisian Liberation Front’ as detailed in Robert Anton Wilson’s book, the ‘fictional’ ‘Illuminatus’ I am very heartened as I am tired of spending all my time in Orwell and Kafka’s world!