Brand owners on Facebook are facing the threat of a major hack attack, after one group claimed it will “destroy” the social networking site; accusing it of spying on users, colluding with authorities and abusing people’s privacy.
Dubbed Operation Facebook, sources point to a YouTube video actually posted on July 16 by hacking group Anonymous, which claims the attack will begin on November 5.
Although details of how the attack will be carried out are unknown, one of their key tactics is to conduct distributed denial-of-service attacks, which involve bombarding a website with traffic in an attempt to cause the site to stop responding.
The video features a digitally generated voice speaking over an Anonymous logo, warning that Facebook will be “destroyed” and encouraging any would-be hacktivists to “join the cause and kill Facebook for the sake of your own privacy”.
“Facebook has been selling information to government agencies and been giving clandestine access to information security firms so that they can spy on people from all around the world,” it continues.”Everything you do on FB stays on FB regardless of your privacy settings.”
An official Anonymous Twitter account, @anonops, initially said the video was a fake, claiming: “We don’t kill the messenger.” The group then changed its mind, saying that Operation Facebook is being organised by some members of the collective. “This does not necessarily mean that all of #Anonymous agrees with it,” the statement added.
Anonymous and affiliated group Lulzsec have led numerous hacking campaigns against businesses and governments whose policies they find offensive.
The groups have also hacked into servers and stolen information, posting it publicly. Their targets over the last few months have included the CIA and the Serious Organised Crime Agency.
