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Wikileaks DDoSed Again

Posted by Unknown on from the can't-catch-a-break dept.

twoheadedboy writes "After being hit by a '72-hour' DDoS in May, WikiLeaks is claiming to be under attack yet again. All its sites appear to be down and fingers have already been pointed at government entities. WikiLeaks, posting on Twitter, said it had its suspicions of why it was being targeted. It was either because of its ongoing releases related to Stratfor and Syria, or because of an upcoming release, Julian Assange's organization speculated. The fact that everyone is currently engrossed in the Olympics may have given attackers good reason to target the websites right now, WikiLeaks said."

16 of 82 comments (clear)

  1. Or WikiLeaks Pulled Its Own Plug... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Interesting

    to stay in the spotlight.

    1. Re:Or WikiLeaks Pulled Its Own Plug... by Desler · · Score: 3, Interesting

      It's amazing how these DDoSes conveniently happen at around the same time Julian's name starts fading from the news headlines. Do we have independent verification that there really is a DDoS and not just more of Assange media whoring?

    2. Re:Or WikiLeaks Pulled Its Own Plug... by benjfowler · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Interesting.

      It probably wouldn't be hard for that loony to get some of his mates to DDoS the Wikileaks website whenever they need to raise a bit more money to keep Assange in his high-flying superspy lifestyle.

    3. Re:Or WikiLeaks Pulled Its Own Plug... by lister+king+of+smeg · · Score: 3, Funny

      He isn't really high flying he has been under house arrest in England for quiet a while

      --
      ---Saying gnome 3 is better than windows 8 not so much a compliment as it is damning with light praise.
    4. Re:Or WikiLeaks Pulled Its Own Plug... by crazyjj · · Score: 3, Informative

      Actually he's currently hiding out in the Ecuadorian embassy in London, trying to dodge extradition to Sweden (and likely, to the U.S.).

      --
      What political party do you join when you don't like Bible-thumpers *or* hippies?
    5. Re:Or WikiLeaks Pulled Its Own Plug... by Desler · · Score: 5, Interesting

      Except that they admitted to doing it? OMG! Wikileaks itself is a false flag operation!

    6. Re:Or WikiLeaks Pulled Its Own Plug... by NeutronCowboy · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Well, let's take your comment at face value, and assume that claiming a DDoS is happening is a good way to get back into the limelight. Is there ever a time for Wikileaks when claiming a DDoS is happening is actually not a good way to get extra publicity?

      They release data and get DDoSed - they can claim they are to be silenced.
      They have been quiet for a while and get DDoSed - they have something to talk about.

      Those are pretty much the only relevant situations I can think about. In short, every possible DDoS situation can be spun as beneficial publicity for Wikileaks. This means that your approach is utterly useless in determining whether the DDoS is real. Now, do you have some actual proof that the DDoS is fake, outside of your personal dislike of Assange?

      --
      Those who can, do. Those who can't, sue.
    7. Re:Or WikiLeaks Pulled Its Own Plug... by NeutronCowboy · · Score: 2

      True: Wikileaks makes a claim, and they need to back it up. However, your claim is not for proof, but to the motivation of Wikileaks under circumstances that make it impossible for them to disprove your claim.

      I'd say your claim is actually worse than Wikileaks'. At least with all the shenanigans that have been going on, a DDoS attack is about the most benign thing to happen to them. Probably not a government, but most likely some Antileaks-type organization. Yours, on the other hand, is a simple attempt to smear Wikileaks and Assange as media whores by employing an argument that is best likened to "Have you stopped beating your wife?"

      --
      Those who can, do. Those who can't, sue.
  2. Which Olympic games? by Bill,+Shooter+of+Bul · · Score: 4, Funny

    The cyber attack on Iran, or the ones in London?

    --
    Well.. maybe. Or Maybe not. But Definitely not sort of.
  3. Re:Only getting what they deserve. by 1s44c · · Score: 4, Insightful

    The problem is that according to the US everyone and everything is an enemy combatant. Even the mighty US doesn't have the resources to be at war with everyone at once.

  4. Re:ur mum by Mister+Transistor · · Score: 2

    Maybe this is a takedown precursor DDOS like what happened to Demonoid? Gov't entities (or "white hats" working for them or the MAFIAA's) DDOS the site while preparing for a takedown so that the owners/users can't log in and change anything or delete any records?

    --
    -- You are in a maze of little, twisty passages, all different... --
  5. group takes responsibility by LG740 · · Score: 5, Informative

    A group calling themselves AntiLeaks has taken responsibility for the attacks. Here are a couple of stories on a german tech site about the group. You can translate it into german. http://www.gulli.com/news/19466-antileaks-ddos-angriffe-als-protest-gegen-wikileaks-2012-08-08 http://www.gulli.com/news/19456-ddos-angriffe-legen-wikileaks-lahm-2012-08-07

    1. Re:group takes responsibility by John+Holmes · · Score: 4, Insightful

      "The very word "secrecy" is repugnant in a free and open society; and we are as a people inherently and historically opposed to secret societies, to secret oaths and secret proceedings. We decided long ago that the dangers of excessive and unwarranted concealment of pertinent facts far outweighed the dangers which are cited to justify it. Even today, there is little value in opposing the threat of a closed society by imitating its arbitrary restrictions. Even today, there is little value in insuring the survival of our nation if our traditions do not survive with it. And there is very grave danger that an announced need for increased security will be seized upon those anxious to expand its meaning to the very limits of official censorship and concealment. That I do not intend to permit to the extent that it is in my control. And no official of my Administration, whether his rank is high or low, civilian or military, should interpret my words here tonight as an excuse to censor the news, to stifle dissent, to cover up our mistakes or to withhold from the press and the public the facts they deserve to know." President John F. Kennedy, April 27, 1961

  6. Re:Only getting what they deserve. by __aaeihw9960 · · Score: 2
    Your name tells me you may be trolling, but I'll bite.

    Where can you show me the US government, right now, attempting the extermination of an entire race of people?

    I have as much distrust of the federal government in me as the next guy, but the US !=Nazi Germany. That is hyperbole, and quite honestly is ridiculous.

  7. Re:whats ..olym pics by BlackSnake112 · · Score: 2

    If they win gold, that is when the pay day starts. How many non medal winning people from the Olympics are on the Wheaties box?

  8. Let me teach you how to get censored by EnergyScholar · · Score: 2

    It's really not very hard to draw attention from people who will censor you or otherwise block your message. Try to distribute information that is inimical to the operations of COINTELPRO spies attempting to manipulate the internet, and you can experience this for yourself. For one example of such forbidden content, read and then try to distribute The Gentleperson's Guide to Forum Spies, which describes in detail the methods used by spies to manipulate internet forums. Slashdot is one forum that is so manipulated, but there are many others. Read that document, then make a concerted effort to get it in front of many eyeballs, and see what happens. After your attempts to communicate are suppressed you will have a much better understanding of "some global conspiracy to DDoS my website to silence me". After such an experience you will be much less prone to doubt others who claim to experience the same thing.

    This author now has so much experience in this area that I can generally tell in advance which material will, and will not, be suppressed, and can often correctly guess which method(s) will be used.