‘Anonymous’ calls for attacks on Egyptian government websites

By David Edwards
Wednesday, January 26, 2011 10:42 EST
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The online group of hactivists known as “Anonymous” expressed their support for protesters in Egypt Wednesday by calling for cyber attacks on websites run by the Egyptian government.

Tens of thousands of demonstrators took to the streets across Egypt this week, facing down a massive police presence to demand the ouster of President Hosni Mubarak in protests inspired by Tunisia’s popular uprising.

After reports said that social media websites Twitter and Facebook had been restricted in the country, the “Anonymous” Facebook page “Operation Egypt” issued a dire warning to the Egyptian government.

“To the Egyptian Govt : Anonymous challenges all those who are involved in censorship,” the group wrote. “Anonymous wants you to offer free access to uncensored media in your entire country. When you ignore this message, not only will we attack your govt websites, we will also make sure that the international media see the horrid reality you impose on your people!”

A graphic on the Facebook page gave instructions for participating in distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks.

In December, “Anonymous” was successful in taking down Visa, Mastercard and other websites of organizations that refused to do business with secrets outlet WikiLeaks.

While some characterized the DDoS efforts as a form of cyber-terrorism, others noted that many participants consciously opted in to the networks, downloading a piece of software that points at a predetermined server and simply asks it to do what it’s made to do: serve pages. When these networks are comprised of volunteers, DDoS attacks are more akin to sit-in protests than terrorism.

More recently, the group got into the business of real-world demonstrations by calling for a global day of protest on Jan. 15 to defend free speech.

Egyptian activists called for a second day of street action on Wednesday as authorities vowed to prevent further protests.

The pro-democracy youth group April 6 Movement, the driving force behind Tuesday’s protests — the largest and most significant in Egypt since bread riots in 1977 — urged people to head back to Cairo’s main square.

Tuesday’s demonstrations, dubbed “the day of anger” and inspired by the uprising in Tunisia, left three protesters and one policeman dead, according to medics.

Despite some 20,000 to 30,000 police being deployed in central Cairo, thousands of demonstrators marched to Tahrir Square on Tuesday, where they chanted in unison: “The people want the ouster of the regime.”

Video from the tumultuous scene showed protesters actively standing up to mobile water cannons and chasing large squads of riot police through the streets.

– With earlier reporting by Stephen C. Webster and AFP

David Edwards
David Edwards
David Edwards has served as an editor at Raw Story since 2006. His work can also be found at Crooks & Liars, and he's also been published at The BRAD BLOG. He came to Raw Story after working as a network manager for the state of North Carolina and as as engineer developing enterprise resource planning software. Follow him on Twitter at @DavidEdwards.
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  • Anonymous

    I love good news

  • Anonymous

    Where do I sign up to help with this DDoS?

  • http://topsy.com/www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/01/anonymous-calls-attacks-egyptian-government-websites/?utm_source=pingback&utm_campaign=L2 Tweets that mention ‘Anonymous’ calls for attacks on Egyptian government websites | Raw Story — Topsy.com

    [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by The Raw Story, Antiwar.com, Punk Johnny Cash, Sameh Wahba, Homo Homini Lupus and others. Homo Homini Lupus said: RT @tamsinchan: RawStory: #Anonymous calls for attacks on Egyptian government websites http://su.pr/7p7fwX #opegypt #jan25 [...]

  • Taleisin

    Power to the people!

  • Taleisin

    Power to the people!

  • Taleisin

    Power to the people!

  • http://twitter.com/victordmelo Víctor Melo

    Count on me!

  • http://twitter.com/victordmelo Víctor Melo

    Count on me!

  • http://twitter.com/victordmelo Víctor Melo

    Count on me!

  • Anonymous

    you go anonymous, bring those sites down.

    and then bring down that wretched gov’t of mubarak

  • Anonymous

    fyi

    this site is now down: http://www.egyptiancabinet.gov.eg/

    http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/middleeast/news/article_1614778.php/Egyptian-government-websites-down-after-hacker-threat-Extra

    “The group, called Anonops, wrote on Twitter that its members are now targeting the Egyptian Ministry of Communication and Information Technology. ‘Reason: internet censorship on Egypt,’ wrote the group.

    The German Press Agency dpa tried to access the ministry’s website, but it appeared to be down Wednesday evening…”.

    AND

    http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/105329/20110126/egyptian-government-web-sites-attacked.htm

    Web sites run by the Egyptian government are experiencing service problems, possibly as a result of denial of service attacks mounted by the collective known as Anonymous

  • Johnny Warbucks

    Go get ‘em, Anonymous!

    The latest from Egypt is that Mubarak Jr. has fled the country and is in the UK. Funny how they all cover for each other, eh? And even funnier is to see how none of them goes to Tel Aviv, wonder why?

    Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak’s son who is considered as his successor has fled to Britain along with his family, US-based Arabic website Akhbar al-Arab reported.

    http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/105090/20110126/hosni-mubarak-gamal-mubarak.htm

  • http://twitter.com/heydarguise hey guise

    My favorite part is when a plan comes together.

  • http://twitter.com/heydarguise hey guise

    My favorite part is when a plan comes together.

  • Anonymous

    Hard to support Mubarek, but if he goes down, lets hope they get a real democracy versus some anti-western, Islamist government to fill the vacuum. having such a government in the Arab world’s most populous country won’t be good for the stability of the region.

  • Anonymous

    Hard to support Mubarek, but if he goes down, lets hope they get a real democracy versus some anti-western, Islamist government to fill the vacuum. having such a government in the Arab world’s most populous country won’t be good for the stability of the region.

  • Anonymous

    be careful the US gov’t considers this as terrorism.

  • Anonymous

    be careful the US gov’t considers this as terrorism.

  • H.P. Loathecraft

    And some members of Ali’s family are in Montreal, Canada.

  • H.P. Loathecraft

    I hadn’t heard that expressed yet. Is that accurate?

  • Anonymous

    Just how many tons of Gold did he bring with him?

    An’ Papa’s got the rest…

  • Anonymous

    Hey, an’ while yer at it that wretched American Government too…

  • Anonymous

    Ask the Pentagon to let you enrol and then send everything you find to Wiki..

    Of importance where did the 2.3 Trillion dollars go?

  • Anonymous

    Just curious as to who’s model of Democracy you would find acceptable..

  • Johnny Warbucks

    That would depend on how much Papa Mubarak trusts him. Or maybe, he is a shoe man and took a plane full of shoes with him

  • Knot

    Not that I know anything about it, but there is an IRC channel on the poster that’s published with this story.

    edit: it’s worth remembering, that the Egyptian government is a dictatorship that is closely allied with the US government. In other words, a pro-democracy movement may sound like something an American could support, but in this case it is anti-American.

  • Anonymous

    cointelpro

  • Anonymous

    WOW! Really? never mind . . .

  • TheDevilCanDance

    I have one concept for you, Self determination……I despise the American political system that produces self righteous mass murdering scumbags, but I am not asking for some foreign power to intervene or even control your political regime.

  • TheDevilCanDance

    I have one concept for you, Self determination……I despise the American political system that produces self righteous mass murdering scumbags, but I am not asking for some foreign power to intervene or even control your political regime.

  • Jaimie11

    Dat’s why dey need a kill switch.

  • Anonymous

    I am all for self determination. The Egyptian people have the right to demand a better government. And yes I know your feelings on America. my point is that, as an American, who believes it’s virtues and successes far outweigh its sins, the US will not be better off if an Islamist regime were to replace Mubarek. My much preferred outcome would be for Mubarek to institute political reforms that the people are demanding.

    Egypt is our most important alley in the Arab World and while you would be pleased to see it becocme an enemy, I woujld not.

  • Jaimie11

    So often that is the case.

  • Jaimie11

    Devil, it’s not the American system, but the British-American system that produces self righteous mass murdering scumbags. We are partners in crime.

  • TheDevilCanDance

    It is not about my feeling or what might please me or not. Let the Egyptians decide if they want to remain your most important ally.

  • TheDevilCanDance

    It is not about my feeling or what might please me or not. Let the Egyptians decide if they want to remain your most important ally.

  • Anonymous

    Hosni mubarak is MIA… Nobody seems to have a bead on where he is at the moment..

    Begs the question of who is calling the shots in Cairo… If his kid has already cut and run, then the Egyptian government was pretty sure they had no chance at stopping the riots from tearing through into any building anybody important may be in..

    This is less of a domino effect and more like a chain reaction. The speed and violence of these riots indicate they are spontaneous, with little to no premeditation.

    Anonymous has throw their hat into the ring. So has the American and other western governments. If the government of Egypt falls, then every major and minor government on the planet will have been put on notice. If the Egyptian government maintains power, then the internet is nothing but a childish toy unable to affect anything in the physical world…

    We ALL have a dog in that race.

  • Anonymous

    Understanding that it was the WAR CRIMINAL bush who gave the call for the Crusades (duh!), then the COWARD and TRAITOR cheney with his lies and misdirection, why do I bring up these SCUM BAGS and Americas disgrace, because what Anti American corporations are involved this should be easy enough to find out what WEAPONS are being sad and what is the Mantra for freedom, we have the Morons and Idiots of the CIA, the equally Ignorant rants and raves of the Bullish Brits.

    Come on folks remember this was Engineered by OUR Government, it fits the plan of WHY, the Cowards and TRAITORS of the COWARDLY war hawk right wanted to invade Iran. One has to remember the government never thinks small, pick up ANY book on American Expansionism from the mid 1800s’ to the early 1900s and you would understand. Now lets identify the Anti American corporations WORKING through their subsidiaries, hey their COWARDS they want plausible deniability. Next check the RIGHT WING wacko Anti American republican SENATORS and Representatives over the last 18 months to two years, then go to the Classified committees.

    Now you have the answer of why the Anti American Racist,Nazi republican wants to end Social Security and medicare and Medicaid.

  • http://worldwright.wordpress.com/2011/01/27/the-raw-story-investigative-news-and-politics/ The Raw Story | Investigative News and Politics « WorldWright's …

    [...] ‘Anonymous’ calls for attacks on Egyptian government sites [...]

  • Anonymous

    There is no guarantee that the Eypyptian people will get a chance to decide anything if Mubarek is overthrown-a Islamist authoritarian government could step in to fill the vacuum. Lose lose for it’s people and the West.

    However, if the people do actually get to choose a form of new government, the country’s people are secular and modern enough to likely want to continue its alliance with the West.

  • http://mondoweiss.net/2011/01/revolution-in-egypt.html The latest from Egypt

    [...] the regime out. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/wael-nawara/egyptian-people-tell-muba_b_814142.html ‘Anonymous’ calls for attacks on Egyptian government websites The online group of hactivists known as "Anonymous" expressed their support for protesters in Egypt [...]

  • TheDevilCanDance

    It doesn’t work this way. The Islamists cannot take power without the army & the security forces,they need a consensus.By the way why are you blaming them for their Islamism, they are Muslims, no one is asking the Yanks to turn their back on Jesus…..

  • Anonymous

    I hope you are right. I am not blaming anyone for their religion- people can be whatever faith they want, I don’t give a fuck as I am not religious myself. But as an American, I do not want to see any more Islamist governments(like the one in the Iran, the Taliban, etc) in the world because they will no doubt be hostile to us(like Iran and the Taliban, etc). The US is secular, not a “Jesus’ country. Secularism is my preference over a government run by religious zealots.

  • TheDevilCanDance

    I am an atheist myself but I have no problem with religious people as long as they leave me alone, If you study Islam, you`ll learn that atheist is not on top of their hit list, as long as you do not insult or desecrate their religion, they will give you a break.There are even some justifications or rationalizations for atheism in Sufi literature,If you know the trick, you can make your way through a conversation with a Muslim theologian :)

  • Anonymous

    No doubt that most Muslims will give a pass to someone who does not share their beliefs. The problem is the ones who lead certain political movements in the Middle East and Central Asia don’t like what my country stands for and would love to hurt my friends and family if they could, and have tried many times, sometimes successfully. Just hope those types don’t take over Egypt(Muslim Brotherhood and cousin Al Queda).

    Here is one of many examples of the kind of people I hope do not get control of Egypt: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1350945/Horrific-video-emerges-Taliban-fighters-stoning-couple-death-adultery.html

  • Anonymous

    No doubt that most Muslims will give a pass to someone who does not share their beliefs. The problem is the ones who lead certain political movements in the Middle East and Central Asia don’t like what my country stands for and would love to hurt my friends and family if they could, and have tried many times, sometimes successfully. Just hope those types don’t take over Egypt(Muslim Brotherhood and cousin Al Queda).

    Here is one of many examples of the kind of people I hope do not get control of Egypt: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1350945/Horrific-video-emerges-Taliban-fighters-stoning-couple-death-adultery.html

  • TheDevilCanDance

    Comet. You are American, you have the strongest military on this fucking planet, you have nothing to fear from Muslims. They are not going to invade your country.What is needed is a change in US foreign policy, Americans have to stop behaving like madmen & treat these people the way they treat others.

  • http://truthmovement.com/?p=1922 Update: Mass FBI raids target pro-WikiLeaks ‘Operation Payback’ : http://truthmovement.com/

    [...] Wednesday, “Anonymous” expressed their support for protesters in Egypt by calling for cyber attacks on websites run by the Egyptian [...]

  • http://freedomfighterradio.net/2011/01/29/mass-fbi-raids-target-pro-wikileaks-%e2%80%98operation-payback%e2%80%99/ Freedom Fighter Radio | Mass FBI raids target pro-WikiLeaks ‘Operation Payback’ – Anonymous challenges all those who are involved in censorship

    [...] Wednesday, “Anonymous” expressed their support for protesters in Egypt by calling for cyber attacks on websites run by the Egyptian [...]

  • http://samesamebutdifferent.se/2011/01/31/veckan-som-gick-vecka-4-3/ Veckan som gick – vecka 4 « Same Same But Different

    [...] Kullenberg, men flertalet föredrar att vara anonyma. Hackernätverket Anonymous har också uppmanat till attacker mot egyptiska offentiliga webbsajter. Computerworld skriver också om hur egypterna kan kringgå [...]

  • http://canarytrap.in/2011/01/31/internet-and-egypt-protests/ Internet and Egypt protests

    [...] International Hackers Anonymous have started a full hacking campaign on Egypt’s government websites. [...]

  • http://www.hottospot.com/2011/02/04/politics/amid-mass-protests-%e2%80%98anonymous%e2%80%99-topples-egyptian-gov%e2%80%99t-websites/ Amid mass protests, ‘Anonymous’ topples Egyptian gov’t websites | Hot to Spot

    [...] down as part of the attacks.After the successful revolution in Tunisia, members of the organization turned their attentions to Egypt, which had restricted access to social media websites Twitter and Facebook. The [...]