The group often takes part in such activities, taking websites offline that do not meet their cause of free speech for all. Last summer they attacked websites used by Islamic State militants and now they are joining the world in expressing their disgust at the Charlie Hebdo massacres.
The group’s press release for the operation defiantly says “It’s obvious that some people don’t want, in a free world, this sacrosanct right to express in any way one’s opinions. Anonymous has always fought for the freedom of speech, and will never let this right besmirched by obscurantism and mysticism. Expect a massive reaction from us, because this freedom is what we’ve been always fighting for.”
The group carried out its first attack on January 10th. The target was jiadhist-classed website ansar-alhaqq.net and was successfully knocked offline using the typical DDoS technique. It involves bombarding a site with a flood of fake traffic, eventually crashing the server and preventing users from viewing the content. Although not a method to keep sites off the web for prolonged periods of time, the effective attacking style can cause serious damage and disrupt connection for as long as the effort lasts.
A new Twitter account is being used by Anonymous to relay details of their ongoing operation, @OpCharlieHebdo. They have warned other similiar sites “Expect us”, using the hashtags #OpCharlieHebdo, #CharlieHebdo and #JeSuisCharlie, which over 1 million French people united under in defiant marches in Paris on Sunday.
