Facebookers breathed a sigh of relief this weekend, as the cyber attack allegedly planned by rogue Anonymous members for 5 November, failed to materialise.
Anonymous has spoken out against media reports that the hacking collective was responsible for the “Operation Facebook” posts on YouTube, Twitter and Pastebin, which first emerged in August this year. The YouTube channel has since been removed.
The original video that announced Operation Facebook, stated: “Your medium of communication you all so dearly adore will be destroyed. If you are a willing hacktivist or a guy who just wants to protect the freedom of information, then join the cause and kill Facebook for the sake of your own privacy.”
According to Anonymous, Operation Facebook was the work of a lone member with no support from the rest of the group.
The @AnonymousPress account on Twitter, tweeted yesterday: “#FYI: #Anonymous NEVER made any indication to a #Facebook Operation, that was the work of a troll with no relation to #Anonymous.”
In a statement posted to Pastebin, Anonymous says: “Anonymous is a movement, we don't take kindly to when people try to [expletive] it up. Our movement relies on communicating with people around the world so we can help one another.” (sic)
Anonymous went on to name the man they believe to be responsible for the creating of Operation Facebook.
“Despite us telling this mate several times we did not support his op, he continued to push his agenda for lulz. This op is phony but he continues to say it's an anon op.” (sic)
Scapegoat?
Anonymous stated that anyone who is against the way the group communicates on social networking sites is trying to disrupt the movement. As a result, Anonymous posted the contact details and address of the man they believed to be responsible.
“No one member is bigger than Anonymous. This shall teach you a lesson,” said the group.
CNET has reported that in an e-mail exchange with the man targeted by Anonymous, he has said he did not launch OpFacebook, but just created a page by that name on Facebook, populating it with information from other sources.
He said the group is using him as a scapegoat, when they realised they wouldn't be able to take down Facebook.
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