WikiLeaks persists despite massive, multifaceted attacks

[Renew Deal]

In a profound (and to many, troubling) reflection on the resiliency of the Web, WikiLeaks emerges stronger than ever

No doubt you've been inundated by the WikiLeaks saga -- 750,000 leaked American government cables; various governments spitting wrath and venom; PayPal, MasterCard, and Visa refusing to take donations (although PayPal has released already-collected funds); the Swiss bank PostFinance freezing a WikiLeaks account; banishments from the Amazon servers (aided and abetted by Sen. Lieberman) and EveryDNS; an extended DDoS attack from unknown sources directed at the WikiLeaks website; and Julian Assange's arrest and ongoing elevation from relative obscurity to freedom-of-the-press martyr.

You also know about the group that calls itself "Anonymous" and its LOIC (Low Orbit Ion Cannon) package, an innovative install-it-yourself DDoS package that allows Anonymous to fire at will -- or anybody else for that matter. Anonymous took out PayPal, then MasterCard, then Visa, as well as PostFinance and EveryDNS, with varying degrees of online hobbling. Facebook and Twitter have found themselves caught in the headlights, first allowing, then banning, then allowing IDs that claim affiliation with WikiLeaks or Anonymous. Right now, the tech universe is waiting breathlessly to see who's next.

You've probably also made up your mind as to whether WikiLeaks and -- in a different, vigilante way -- Anonymous are defending the tenents of free speech and/or irreparably undermining the ability of governments to govern and/or attacking the wrong target. Heady stuff.

Love 'em or hate 'em, curse them as the reincarnation of the Axis of Evil or sanctify them as the embodiment of Right to Know, you have to admire one amazing trait: WikiLeaks has come through all of the villification, scorn, and attacks intact. WikiLeaks is still online, still serving up its version of The Truth. Its resilience bears amazing testimony to the adaptable nature of the Internet and shines a bright light on the power of social networking for something other than teenage angst. Not so coincidentally, the WikiLeakers have used tricks that high-profile organizations may find useful some day.
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http://www.infoworld.com/t/web-services/wikileaks-persists-despite-massive-multi-faceted-attacks-937

[bemildred]

1. So the Internet won the first round. nt

[formercia]

2. Insurgents 1, The Man 0

Proving again, that the greatest power on Earth is helpless fighting a small, flexible and maneuverable opponent.

[Matilda]

3. An interesting perspective on "Assange's Cyber Nomads"

from Saturday's Sydney Morning Herald:

"There is more than a whiff of Jason Bourne about Julian Assange - the hunt, trusting no one, on the run - all with a revolving backdrop of cities such as London, Stockholm, New York and Washington."

--snip--

"The battle between old and new is fascinating. You could see it being played out when MasterCard withdrew support for WikiLeaks this week and a transnational community of hackers crashed the credit card website.

"But the old rules, countries and citizenship still matter when faced with the serious legal challenges Assange confronts.

"As the battle between the global nomad and the nation states plays out, it appears as if we are living through what may come to be a defining moment in history."


http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/society-and-culture/assanges-cyber-nomads-shed-their-born-identity-20101210-18sr1.html

[Jefferson23]

4. So far, so good! n/t