‘Hacktivist’ takes credit for WikiLeaks attacks via Twitter
This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.
A self-proclaimed ‘hacktivist’ is apparently taking some credit for the Internet attacks that shut down many pages on WikiLeaks.org today.
The hacker, who goes by the name Jester, claims on his blog to have used distributed denial of service attacks to bring down websites in the past -- the same method WikiLeaks says it was hampered by on Sunday and today.
Jester often claims responsibility for bringing down websites on his Twitter account using the phrase ‘tango down,’ which is used by the military to indicate that an enemy has been eliminated in a firefight.
Today, he sent multiple tweets directed at WikiLeaks:
‘www.wikileaks.org - TANGO DOWN - for attempting to endanger the lives of our troops, ‘other assets’ & foreign relations #wikileaks #fail’ ‘If I was a wikileaks ‘source’ right now I’d be getting a little twitchy, if they cant protect their own site, how can they protect a src?’ ‘www.wikileaks.org - TANGO DOWN - INDEFINITLEY - for attempting to endanger the lives of our troops and ‘other assets’ #wikileaks #fail’
On his blog, Jester describes himself as a’hacktivist for good’ and someone who is ‘obstructing the lines of communication for terrorists, sympathizers, fixers, facilitators, oppressive regimes and other general bad guys.’
Hacker fan videos on YouTube, posted on Jester’s website, state that ‘Jester claims to be an ex-military operative -- of which military he hasn’t said -- and to have spent time in the Middle East physically fighting the war on terror.’
The Web attacks on WikiLeaks come after the site released communications between world leaders and diplomats and U.S. government officials discussing government secrets, strategies, concerns and even details such as quirks and idiosyncrasies of politicians.
The Obama administration has condemned the release of the documents, which the White House has said were stolen, and said WikiLeaks has put at risk the cause of human rights and the ‘diplomats, intelligence professionals and people around the world who come to the United States for assistance in promoting democracy and open government.’
RELATED:
WikiLeaks says it’s been hacked, crashed pages include U.S. diplomatic cables
WikiLeaks releases U.S. diplomatic cables == Full Coverage from the Los Angeles Times
-- Nathan Olivarez-Giles