While attention has recently been drawn to the role of organized crime gangs in cyber-crime, politically motivated "hactivism" shows no signs of slowing down. The Anonymous hactivist group has not let arrests by the FBI or other law enforcement agencies take away its mojo.
Last month, Anonymous hackivists announced their intentions to keep taking on the Chinese government, while also attacking tech and telecom industry trade associations.
At first glance these targets don't seem to have much in common. One is a nominally communist state, the other a pair of private industry associations. But they reveal something about the Anonymous group's motives. Hactivists love making a stir, and they also love presenting themselves as heroes to a disgruntled public.
The authoritarian government of China is thoroughly unpopular with the Western public. Among computer users it is widely suspected of involvement in hacking and spam. So while there may be some irony in the Anonymous hactivists hacking Chinese government sites, few will feel sorry for the victim.
In contrast, most of the public has likely never heard of USTelecom or TechAmerica, the trade associations also attacked last month by Anonymous. But "corporations" are always easy targets, and the telecom industry suffers from charging for a generic, commodified service. People may love their smartphones; they rarely love their service provider.
And the trade associations were attacked for supporting a cyber-security bill. The public has learned to be suspicious of measures they regard as attacks on consumer privacy – or the "right" to download music and other content for free.
