Last Updated on November 12, 2019

USSC Website Hack: Symbolic Choice

Anonymous chose the website due to the symbolic nature. Part of the message from the hack read:

“This website was chosen due to the symbolic nature of its purpose—the federal sentencing guidelines which enable prosecutors to cheat citizens of their constitutionally guaranteed right to a fair trial, by a jury of their peers—the federal sentencing guidelines which are in clear violation of the 8th amendment protection against cruel and unusual punishments.”

The USSC was not the only website attacked. Anonymous stated on the site that it had infiltrated other US government sites and found material that it believed would be embarrassing if released. Another part of the message that there was enough material for the group to launch numerous warheads and that the first one, Operation Last Resort, had already started. Part of the attack has included Nyan Cat Asteroids installed onto government websites just waiting to be released.

The government were aware of the hack as soon as it happened and started working on removing the issue right away. The FBI is now investigating and treating it as a criminal offense.

Anonymous Are Not Just US Based

This attack is not the first. In recent months two British men were jailed for their involvement in Anonymous, and attacking PayPal and other payment sites. There have also been attacks on various government websites around the world, including in the UK.

Anonymous Hacktivists: Demanding a Change in the US Law

Anonymous continue to demand a change in the U.S. Law and this weekend’s attack is just the most current method. It will be difficult to trace the whole group, but it is not impossible to trace all their movements, as has been proven with the successful conviction of two men for their involvement with PayPal in the UK.

Government officials may be more concerned with the fact that the Anonymous operatives have not released the names of all the websites they have affected or the information that they have gathered from the databases. More Asteroids anyone?

Resources:

ABC News. Anonymous Hacks US Govt Website over Swartz Death. (2013). Accessed January 28, 2013.

BBC News. Anonymous Hackers Target US Agency Site. (2013). Accessed January 28, 2013.

Williams, M. Hacker Collective Anonymous Hit US Government Site. (2013). Accessed January 28, 2013.

Kleinman, Z. Aaron Swartz Investigation Ordered by MIT. (2013). Accessed January 28, 2013.

AnonOps. About AnonOps. Accessed January 28, 2013.

Oremus, W. Aaron Swartz Protesters Take Over Government Websites, Install Asteroids. (2013). Accessed January 28, 2013.