The Church of Scientology under Hack Attack

[Ezekiel Crowe]

It seems that in addition to the Church's recent woes, they now have to contend with another battle on the electronic front.

A hacker organization called "Anonymous" is taking action against the Church of Scientology on the internet. Their stated goal is the eviction of the church from the electronic realm and are in favor of increasing the awareness of the human rights violations that the church has committed.

The following are videos posted on YouTube, supposedly by members of anonymous:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCbKv9yiLiQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YrkchXCzY70

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ufcHYIQnks

One way or another this is going to get interesting. Scientology has become vulnerable on two fronts.

EDIT: Beaten to the punch. (http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?t=104846) If the mods would kindly merge the two threads...?

[Supercharts]

How the CO$ took over the police department in Clearwater, FL.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4595729596527335458

[dudalb]

I have very mixed feelings about this.
I hate the CO$ and love somebody sticking it to them but then remember that the COS using tactics like Anonymous is using against them is a major reason why I hate the CO$.

[Tanstaafl]

Indeed, this is highly ambivalent to me.

Sorta like Jeffrey Dahmer being murdered in prison.

[dirtywick]

I have very mixed feelings about this.
I hate the CO$ and love somebody sticking it to them but then remember that the COS using tactics like Anonymous is using against them is a major reason why I hate the CO$.

I don't really think they've "done" anything as of yet. I mean, I've seen some vague YouTube, but so what?

But anyway, we've all seen the numerous frivilous lawsuits, fliers around the neighborhood claiming folks are a child molestor, being followed, having homes picketed, threats, people cut off from family members, drug rehab scandals, and who knows what else...and then we sit and watch the CoS get away with it all scott free. It makes me sick.

So here I am thinking alright, maybe they shouldn't be doing this. But it's somebody doing something, know what I'm saying? Nobody with the power to put a stop to it seems to be stepping up to the plate, so I'm pretty content watching from the sidelines.

[ThatSoundAgain]

dirywick, they've apparently mounted a succesful denial of service attack against some COS websites. People who do that I'd be very reluctant to count as behaving ethically.

[dirtywick]

I heard the problems with their websites might have been from just an increased traffic influx from the curiousity of regular people regarding the Tom Cruise video though.

Eh, either way, I'm sure not going to lose any sleep over it, know what I mean?

[fuelair]

I have very mixed feelings about this.
I hate the CO$ and love somebody sticking it to them but then remember that the COS using tactics like Anonymous is using against them is a major reason why I hate the CO$.

Sometimes you have to use rectums tactics against them - or let them win. I go with use it against them but do it better, faster, nastier, deadlier.

[geni]

Sometimes you have to use rectums tactics against them - or let them win. I go with use it against them but do it better, faster, nastier, deadlier.

Sorry are you sideing with CO$ or /b/ here?

[fuelair]

Sorry are you sideing with CO$ or /b/ here?

Does the idea that L. Ron Hubbard should burn in Hell forever (though I do not believe in afterlife)while serving as Satan's personal bidet (though, obviously, I do not believe in Satan either) give a hint?:)

In all fairness, I assumed the fact that I was responding to a quote wherein the quotee was unhappy, but mixed/happy that the good guys were using tactics that the Church of Fecesologists had used against others who were not members of the Church of Coprophilia would have made it clear.:) :) :)

[ThatSoundAgain]

I heard the problems with their websites might have been from just an increased traffic influx from the curiousity of regular people regarding the Tom Cruise video though.

Eh, either way, I'm sure not going to lose any sleep over it, know what I mean?

Yup, I know what you mean. And denial of service is not what I count as over the line in all cases, I believe Greenpeace has been able to do manual ones where thay just asked people to hit specific websites with their browsers. That's more like a picketing or even a blockade (which in my book counts as civil disobedience as long as it's non-violent). You have to be quite coordinated and have a large following to do that, though. If the attack includes botnets, I'd count that as wrong since you're hijacking other people's machines and / or funding malware producing bastards.

Nevertheless, COS needs to be called on its own strong-arm tactics, and stopped from harassing dissenters. Preferably via legal means, I rarely think that escalating a conflict already bordering on violence is a good idea. That doesn't mean lying down and taking it.

[Ezekiel Crowe]

My RSS feed just found an interesting video on YouTube with the tag "Scientology":

Link. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zE6UQhy7nHo)

[suomynonA]

A hacker organization called "Anonymous" is taking action against the Church of Scientology on the internet.

Calling Anonymous an organization or hackers is incorrect. Anonymous is a group of individuals with their own thoughts and beliefs. Many have become united by the common cause and goal of harassing the Church of Scientology, but this is not universal among Anonymous. Most are not hackers and only have average computer skills. Anonymous has only been labeled such by its mainly internet presence.

I have very mixed feelings about this.
I hate the CO$ and love somebody sticking it to them but then remember that the COS using tactics like Anonymous is using against them is a major reason why I hate the CO$.
This is acceptable to Anonymous. Approval or disapproval of such tactics means knowledge that the such actions are being carried out, and the more that know about them the more that know why they are happening.

[Nogbad]

Essentially, as far as I can see (going by own kids and their friends) B are a bunch of teens (ok an absolutely huge bunch of kids spread internationally) with a naughty sense of humour - some are very IT literate and others less so. From what I can gather, from what my daughter has told me, the whole thing has snowballed because, following the initial conflict over videos being muscled off the net by the 'tologists, they started to read up and watch videos about the "religion" and were horrified by its track record of bullying and censorship. Two topics which I guess ring a note with teenagers.

I have spoken to my daughter in particular, as she is the more radical of the two, about not doing anything illegal and she is cool with concentrating on the humour and mocking side of things. In turn I have said I will mention in passing to our MP (who I happen to know in a work capacity) that it might be interesting to see how the moves in Germany and France work out and that it might be worth considering removing charitable status here too. Our MP could do with a "side of the angels" project. Certainly the more I see and read the more disturbing the whole thing seems.

[leonAzul]

It would seem that something more substantial than hacking the CoS web site is in the offing:

http://tinyurl.com/2z5lbz
http://tinyurl.com/yoy7wa
http://tinyurl.com/ys7rln
http://img183.imageshack.us/img183/460/1201116421097ig4.jpg
http://tinyurl.com/2xe8jx

Peace,

paul

[Father Dagon]

Sometimes you have to use rectums tactics against them - or let them win. I go with use it against them but do it better, faster, nastier, deadlier.I think it's a good thing. I'm sick and tired of being expected to be a goody two shoes just beacuse I know that science is better than woo. Randi himself is something of "the bad cop".

And Anonymous is also targeting the IMDB, giving Tom Cruises films the lowest rating. And there's nothing wrong with that, beacuse it's all about subjectivity. If there was objective criterias for the quality of a film, then there would be no voting at IMDB, the ratings would be done by a committee of spider experts.

[Gord_in_Toronto]

I think it's a good thing. I'm sick and tired of being expected to be a goody two shoes just beacuse I know that science is better than woo. Randi himself is something of "the bad cop".

And Anonymous is also targeting the IMDB, giving Tom Cruises films the lowest rating. And there's nothing wrong with that, beacuse it's all about subjectivity. If there was objective criterias for the quality of a film, then there would be no voting at IMDB, the ratings would be done by a committee of spider experts.

Hmm, "spider experts", I like that. But are these humans who are experts in spiders or spiders who are experts in objectively rating movies? Sorry, for the derail. :)

[Arkan_Wolfshade]

I see /b/'s actions as not unlike security patching trojans, and DoS attacks against open email relays being exploited by spammers. It's certainly a grey area. The 'net is still very much a Wild West sort of place, but one that has strong repercussions irl. Can't say I either condone or condemn their actions. I will say it is unfortunate that the white hat world has failed to deal with the problem to a point where people feel the need to step up and enact such vigilante steps.

[Wildy]

You know, I found the local Scientology branch today.

My peripheral vision at one point was filled with copies of Dianetics and I looked up at the building and though "Oh, this is where they are".

I probably should have gotten a free personality test. If they let me take it home I would have answered it with the Correct Answers (http://www.xenu.net/archive/oca/) and would find out what I got.

But I have learned that there are people who are going to protest outside there. I think I will go and watch in the background.

[Macoy]

I see /b/'s actions as not unlike security patching trojans, and DoS attacks against open email relays being exploited by spammers. It's certainly a grey area. The 'net is still very much a Wild West sort of place, but one that has strong repercussions irl. Can't say I either condone or condemn their actions. I will say it is unfortunate that the white hat world has failed to deal with the problem to a point where people feel the need to step up and enact such vigilante steps.

Shurely, black hat world?

[Arkan_Wolfshade]

Shurely, black hat world?
I meant that the white hats haven't solved the issue, so the greys and blacks are taking action.


And don't call me Shirley. ;)

[geni]

Does the idea that L. Ron Hubbard should burn in Hell forever (though I do not believe in afterlife)while serving as Satan's personal bidet (though, obviously, I do not believe in Satan either) give a hint?:)

Um no. /b/ would write slash fiction about that.


In all fairness, I assumed the fact that I was responding to a quote wherein the quotee was unhappy, but mixed/happy that the good guys were using tactics that the Church of Fecesologists had used against others who were not members of the Church of Coprophilia would have made it clear.:) :) :)

/b/ are not the good guys.

[geni]

Essentially, as far as I can see (going by own kids and their friends) B are a bunch of teens (ok an absolutely huge bunch of kids spread internationally) with a naughty sense of humour - some are very IT literate and others less so.

Naughty? not exactly the right word there.


From what I can gather, from what my daughter has told me, the whole thing has snowballed because, following the initial conflict over videos being muscled off the net by the 'tologists, they started to read up and watch videos about the "religion" and were horrified by its track record of bullying and censorship. Two topics which I guess ring a note with teenagers.


/b/ were not horrified. Horror means careing. /b/ could hardly be horrified by bullying. censorship would obviously be more of an issue.


Certainly the more I see and read the more disturbing the whole thing seems.

Again are you talking about /b/ or CO$?

[Macoy]

Totalitarionists, unite!

[Nogbad]

Naughty? not exactly the right word there.



/b/ were not horrified. Horror means careing. /b/ could hardly be horrified by bullying. censorship would obviously be more of an issue.



Again are you talking about /b/ or CO$?


Naughty may be a minor understatement

Yes I think the censorship issue was the main bugbear

Not sure - they each appear to have their disturbing aspects :)

[porch]

This was bound to get messy. Here's an article about the first civilian casualty:

http://blog.wired.com/27bstroke6/2008/01/anonymous-hac-1.html

I hope and predict that this conflict will end with the CoS even more weakened than before. They've been taking hits ever since they tried to apply their old ways of suppressing information to the internet. I also hope that no more innocent people are harmed in the ensuing battle.

[Oroborus]

It's a bit like clubbing a wolf that's trying to attack a baby...except you're using a baby as your club.

[suomynonA]

/b/ are not the good guys.

Anonymous knows this quite well. Anonymous knows they are the bad guys. They just happen to be fighting on the right side this time, and are willing to do some things the good guys won't.

[Wildy]

So they are the anti-hero in this tale then.

[CaptainManacles]

This was bound to get messy. Here's an article about the first civilian casualty:

http://blog.wired.com/27bstroke6/2008/01/anonymous-hac-1.html

I hope and predict that this conflict will end with the CoS even more weakened than before. They've been taking hits ever since they tried to apply their old ways of suppressing information to the internet. I also hope that no more innocent people are harmed in the ensuing battle.

I like how the person claims they don't even know how to use a computer and that their router probably got hacked.

[geni]

So they are the anti-hero in this tale then.

No they are the hyenas. The good guys took on scientology back when it took guts. They are the reason you know what scientology is. They are the reason there is no longer a significant risk in going up against scientology. CO$ was beaten by the good guys it just hasn't stoped moveing yet.

[Michael C]

Somebody has put a link to a load of "secret" Scientology documents on the Pirate Bay:

http://thepiratebay.org/tor/3992707

[Tanstaafl]

I don't seem to be able to get the documents from there. Any ideas what I might be doing wrong?

Or does that site not work?

[ThatSoundAgain]

Tanstaafl, I think any files you download from that site are .torrents right? In that case, you need to use a dedicated Bittorrent client or a Firefox plugin (IIRC) to actually download the file. It's a form of peer-to-peer distributed networking, but the method is legal and probably safe.

[Michael C]

If you're not keen to use the bit torrent system, here are those Scientology documents uploaded to Rapidshare:

http://rapidshare.com/files/88577837/sci.zip.html

Grab 'em while you can! And have lots of fun reading them...

[Father Dagon]

Hmm, "spider experts", I like that. But are these humans who are experts in spiders or spiders who are experts in objectively rating movies? Sorry, for the derail. :)"Spider experts" is from the film Eight legged freaks. Outside the context of the film (i.e. everywhere) it refers to Teh Experts. E.g. techocrats as Alva Myrdal (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alva_Myrdal) who is supposed to have stated that if people don't know that you are supposed to eat tomatoes, then we'll have to teach them. Or optics experts that couldn't take a decent photograph of the inside of a barn, but is totally patronizing towards photographers (they don't know how it really works.) Or why not the Linux nerd who spends 2/3 of the computer time to configure the kernels but still can't run a 6 year old game on the computer (and is totally patronizing against casual gamers.)

[Gord_in_Toronto]

"Spider experts" is from the film Eight legged freaks. Outside the context of the film (i.e. everywhere) it refers to Teh Experts. E.g. techocrats as Alva Myrdal (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alva_Myrdal) who is supposed to have stated that if people don't know that you are supposed to eat tomatoes, then we'll have to teach them. Or optics experts that couldn't take a decent photograph of the inside of a barn, but is totally patronizing towards photographers (they don't know how it really works.) Or why not the Linux nerd who spends 2/3 of the computer time to configure the kernels but still can't run a 6 year old game on the computer (and is totally patronizing against casual gamers.)

Thank you. I hadn't heard that before. I try and learn at least one new "thing" per day. Since it is not yet 11:30 AM here, I'm already ahead and can log off now. :D

[Moochie]

I don't seem to be able to get the documents from there. Any ideas what I might be doing wrong?

Or does that site not work?


If you have Miro running, just click at TPB site where it says, in green:

DIESE TORRENT DATEI HERUNTERLADEN

and Miro will do the rest. Took only a few minutes. Clicking on the above downloads all those docs.

M.