Predict users personal details?
Could you expand on that a bit? It sounds fascinating but you've included it almost as a throwaway comment.
Anonymous is preparing to reveal 40GB of data its members say came from an Australian internet service provider (ISP) and contains “600k+” of customer data. The Reg understands a “sample leak” will be released later today and that the organisation will take care to protect individuals' personal details. The activist …
It's been years since Anonymous had any kind of scruples or ethical targets. Now they just go after anyone who threatens their 'right' to 'free' (i.e. stolen) content by targeting their customers in an attempt to threaten their revenue. They could be doing something useful in the IP arena like campaigning against the USPTO's ludicrous software patent policies or the USA's attempt to globalise their jurisdiction but instead they're trying to defend everyone's ability to download Torrents of Jersey Shore.
@AC 11:40
"All you have to do is tick that 'Post anonymously' box"
er , what does that do exactly?
would that make me a l337 h4k0rZ ?
would i be part of the gang?
fighting the big fight on, er , whatever the hell
I fully agree that guys post re USPTO didnt warrant hiding the id , but neither did yours
If you are referring to the "Post anonymously?" box in these forums I have to point out that we've been informed several times by El Reg staffers that *they* can see who we are even if it doesn't make it onto the site. Therefore, I hardly think that this preserves your anonymity in any significant way. The only people you are hiding from are the people you are supposedly socialising with.
But yeah, I sincerely hope that criticism of US patent law isn't an extraditable offense, otherwise I'm a bit done for.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/australian-it/anonymous-threat-to-isps/story-e6frgakx-1226434704432
"The leak, as promised by Anonymous on the (Australian) ISP will be dumped today," the spokesperson said,
The individual said that the file that the hackers were working was very large and that they were taking steps aimed at preventing the ISP's customers' privacy being compromised.
"We're trying not to hurt people with (the) information but this is a rather large amount of data to deal with so we must be patient," the individual said.
Because the original organization with the data didn't take care to protect individuals details.
No, I would not like my internet history posted to the internet, I don't think many people would. One would hope that by clearing your history and blocking the worst to the tracking cookies and images that you can somewhat protect your history on the internet. Unfortunately our ISPs are government mandated to hoover up this info and keep it till god knows when.
Now you have two choices, you can be mad at Anonymous for being the jackholes they always are, or you can be mad at your government for wanting every little scrap of info about us logged and kept so they can review it as they see fit instead of telling the ISPs to keep out of our business and to provide a connection.
Presumably because the information obtained was done so easily. If Anon can get it and advertise the details with reduced impact of the personal details of those compromised, one would have to expect that black hat entities (with less care for personal information discretion and more care for financial / identity details that would lead to $$$ might be cut short) also have, or could have, access to such information.
Pointing out shit on the footpath so people dont step in it is a better option than letting them step in it, and forcing them to waste time cleaning up the mess off their clothing after the fact.
You win the award for missing the pigging point completely!
If a bunch of useless moronic script kiddies can grab the details of thousands of customers from a company that no doubt brags about protecting it's customer's details, what's to stop someone else doing the same thing and selling it on to Christ knows who for fun and profit?
Nothing like paying for a service, ticking the box to ask the company to protect your identity from third-parties and next thing you get a shed-load shitty junk mail through your door and your inbox, or worse raiding your bank account! All because your ISP can't be arsed to secure its systems from even the beginner "Fuckwit skiddies"!