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Anonymous takes down official Homeland Security website

Cynthia Hodges' photo
Chicago Homeland Security Examiner

February 3, 2012  The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's official website DHS.gov was hacked on Friday afternoon, and Anonymous is claiming responsibility.

Also on Friday, Anonymous released an audio recording of a January conference call between FBI agents and Britain’s Scotland Yard in which the hacktivist group Anonymous was discussed.

The FBI released a statement confirming the authenticity of the recording and has since shifted its investigation to how hactivists linked to the Anonymous network managed to intercept a conference call. In the FBI statement, officials said: 

 "The information was intended for law enforcement officers only and was illegally obtained. A criminal investigation is under way to identify and hold accountable those responsible."

Following the release of the 16-minute confidential conversation online between the two country's top cops, using Twitter accounts associated with Anonymous, the group promised more activity to come throughout the day - and delivered. One Twitter post read:
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 "It's #Friday, Friday, #FuckFBIFriday, everybody's lookin' forward to the leakend, leakened... #FFF"
The group is claiming responsibility for a proxy page display on the website of the Boston Police which reportedly displayed an “#antisec” header, a rap video titled Sound of Da Police, and the following message:
“Is that it? Hell no, there is plenty more mayhem to deliver for this #F—FBIFriday. Do you remember a few months ago when #antisec attaked the Boston Police and released hundred of passwords in retaliation for the brutality against Occupy Boston? They clearly ignored our warnings, because not only did they raid the camp again and kicked protesters off of public parks, but they also sent undercover TSA agents to assualt and attempt to steal from some organizers. So you get your kicks beating protesters? That’s OK; we get kicks defacing and rm’n your websites – again. BDNNews.com, the “Boston Poice Department Virtual Community” also fell to the swift merciless veangeance of the hive. Do you really want to step to this??”
Hackers reportedly exposed sensitive data in Utah, including that of citizens reporting crimes.
 
Anonymous leaked sensitive documents obtained via the defense attorney's website in the case of U.S. Marine Sgt. Frank Wuterich, who admitted he ordered his subordinates to shoot Iraqi civilians during a 2005 raid, but received no jail time during sentencing last week. Wuterich's lawyers website was defaced and other personal information was exposed. 
 
The group compared the case to that of the soldier behind the Wikileaks scandal. Bradley Manning, Anonymous said:
"was brave enough to risk his life and freedom to expose the truth about government corruption is threatened with life imprisonment."
Anonymous has also claimed responsibility for taking down the Greek government’s Ministry of Justice website.
 
According to a Gizmodo report, a source within Anonymous said all of today's targets were a coordinated effort:
"Each attack has it's particular motivations. For example, boston police have been in our crosshairs ever since they started harassing the occupation movement there."
 
The vulnerabilities that Anonymous, and other hacktivists continuously expose in the U.S. cyber-security infrastructure should in part be viewed as opportunities for governments to better protect its citizens.
 
Cyber security experts have repeatedly warned that the largest gaps in Homeland Security preparedness remain in the cyber arena. A "cyber 9/11,"  targeting our national and economic security, such as power grids and water-treatment facilities is perhaps just clicks away. Yet the U.S. Department of Homeland Security continues its data-mining efforts as if the cyber-threat does not exist.
Anonymous strikes U.S. Homeland Security website and several law enforcement sites.
Anonymous strikes U.S. Homeland Security website and several law enforcement sites.
Photo credit: 
Google Images

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, Chicago Homeland Security Examiner

Cynthia Hodges holds a M.A.in Political Science from NEIU in Chicago, Illinois and a Post-Grad Professional Certificate in Disaster and Terrorism Management from University of North Carolina -Chapel Hill. In addition to a successful writing career, Cynthia is in the process of writing a book on...

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