The hactivist group that goes by the name “Anonymous” has collaborated with the group Adbusters to organize their nonviolent protest titled “Occupy Wall Street.” On September 17, 2011, dubbed the ‘Day of Rage,’ the groups plan to gather 20,000 individuals and occupy Wall Street and protest peacefully for months until their demands are met.
Numerous videos on YouTube have been posted by both groups explaining their plan, stating that “[o]n September 17, we want to see 20,000 people flood into lower Manhattan, set up tents, kitchens, peaceful barricades and occupy Wall Street for a few months. Once there, we shall incessantly repeat one simple demand in a plurality of voices.”
Interestingly, the groups have not articulated exactly what their “one demand” is, except to say “we want freedom.” They did, however, published an orientation guide that offers useful tips and summarizes legal rights. Rallies are also being planned in Madrid, Milan, London, Paris and San Francisco.
Statements on the official “U.S. Day of Rage” website and OccupyWallSt.org depict negative feelings toward the government and major banks and financial institutions, including:
Special influence corrupts our political parties, our elections, and the institutions of government.
Bought by hard and soft dollars, disloyal, incompetent, and wasteful special interests have usurped our nation’s civil and military power, spawning a host of threats to liberty and our national security.
For these reasons, we come together now to organize state and national non-violent protests and assemblies of people to demand that integrity be restored to our elections.
The Department of Homeland Security has begun issuing warnings about the potential attacks inthe near future by ‘Anonymous’ and its partners. For example, another protest in October, also led by Adbusters, is scheduled at the Washington, D.C. National Mall that will mark the 10th anniversary of the war in Afghanistan. In addition, the DHS reported that a November 11th attack against Facebook is in the works, as well as one against Project Mayhem scheduled for Dec. 21, 2012. There are indications that Project Mayhem attack could combine physical disruption, as well as the targeting of information systems.
At a minimum, secure your wireless networks and utilize your system’s firewall, just in case the attack moves from the New York streets to the information superhighway. Other useful tips on what to do and how to secure your systems can be found here.
To keep up with this “hactivity,” and to follow it in real-time, track on Twitter: @an0nyc, #iwilloccupy, #sept17, #USDOR, #OccupyWallStreet, #Antibanks, #Anonymous, or #antisec.
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