Anonymous

Anonymous is an international hacking collective that is responsible for many high-profile and politically motivated cyber-attacks and cyber-security breaches. It is unclear who is behind the group, or how many members are involved, but it is believed to be a decentralized “hivemind” of individuals from all around the world.

Anonymous is most well known for its distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks, which are used to overwhelm websites with a deluge of traffic, making them inaccessible to legitimate users. The group has also taken up activism by targeting organizations or individuals they deem unethical, as well as government sites they feel are oppressive or wrongfully attempting to censor information.

In addition to DDoS attacks, Anonymous is also associated with defacement or sabotage of public websites, as well as the unauthorized access of private confidential information.

The group first came to prominence in 2008, when they conducted a campaign of online protests against the Church of Scientology. Since then, Anonymous has become more active in engaging in political, social, and economic activism. In 2011, it was behind the #OccupyWallStreet movement. Additionally, the group has been connected to several high-profile cyber-attacks against banks, government and law enforcement websites, and even the FBI.

The group is known for its use of masks – originally the Guy Fawkes mask, and more recently the “Anonymous” sign – and its slogan “We are Anonymous. We are Legion. We do not forgive. We do not forget. Expect us.”

Anonymous has been featured in books, television shows, and movies, including the acclaimed documentary We Are Legion (2012).