Hackers strike back after Megaupload shut down

20 January 2012

by Olivia Kim

As part of a revenge attack over the arrests concerning Megaupload the hacker collective that calls itself Anonymous attacked the websites of the U.S Justice Department and several major entertainment companies and trade groups in what is seen as retaliation for Megaupload’s seizure.

The group disabled the Justice Department’s site, which is already back up running, and it also claimed credit for shutting down websites for the Motion Picture Association of America and the Recording Industry Association of America, two of the most powerful media lobbies in Washington, as well as those of the Universal Music Group, the largest music label, and BMI, which represents music publishers.

“Let’s just say, for #SOPA supporters their #SOPAblackout is today,” Anonymous wrote in a Twitter post . In an e-mail to the New York Times, a spokesman for the group said it was responsible for the Web attacks.

According to SC Magazine, the hackers next target are Sony, “The Anonymous collective plans to hack Sony.com and load the homepage with BitTorrent files that allow users to download copyright-protected music and movies -- the very action SOPA is designed to prevent. Hackers also plan to strike Sony Music's online store, reducing the cost of songs to zero.”

This is all quite creepy and reminiscent of a the dialogue in this scene in the V for Vendetta film.