Hacktivism
Candlefocus EditorThe goal of hacktivists is to combine the hacking knowledge with political and social activism, in order to create a better future for all. Their main purpose is to make digital information more accessible for the general public, despite governmental restrictions or censorship. By doing this, hacktivists can help inform citizens about important topics, and encourage them to take action on what they learn.
Hacktivists are known for their unique techniques to stay anonymous and achieve their goals. Some of these are doxing, denial of service attacks (DoS), anonymous blogging, information leaks, and website replication. By using these methods, activists can bypass government firewalls and spread their message out.
One of the most important aspects of hacktivism is its ability to draw attention to social and political issues we may otherwise not be aware of. Protestors and organizations such as Occupy Wallstreet, Scientology, and the Church of Scientology have used high profile hacktivist groups to further their cause. Groups such as Anonymous, Legion of Doom (LOD), Masters of Deception (MOD), and Chaos Computer Club have been instrumental in bringing attention to the issues these groups face.
Apart from the main purposes of hacktivism, a more subtle layer of social reform can also be found in their work. It is highly likely that by exposing secretive organizations, hacktivists contribute to greater transparency, and a stronger sense of accountability from government and non-government organizations.
The overall message of hacktivism is to bring positive change in the digital world. Hacktivists want to make sure digital information remains free, accessible and safe for all citizens, and to this end, they will continue finding creative ways of doing so.