On December 10, 2010, Anonymous released a press statement to clarify its identity and objectives.
Who is Anonymous?
Anonymous, often misunderstood, is not a conventional group. Instead, it is an internet gathering without formal structure. Both Anonymous and the media acknowledge the perceived internal disagreements within the group. However, this does not imply a failure in their command structure. The decentralized nature of Anonymous is based on shared ideas rather than hierarchical directives.
Unique in its form, Anonymous learns through trial and error. The collective is now working on better communication of core values to its members. They also aim to inform the public and media about their identity and principles.
Contrary to popular belief, Anonymous is not a group of hackers. Members are average internet citizens driven by frustration over daily injustices. They do not seek to steal personal information or credit card details, nor do they intend to attack critical infrastructures of companies like Mastercard, Visa, PayPal, or Amazon. Their current objective is to raise awareness about WikiLeaks and the tactics used by these companies to hinder its operations.
What is Operation: Payback?
Operation: Payback was never intended to target the critical infrastructure of affected companies. Instead, it focused on their corporate websites, representing their online "public face." This symbolic action is a legitimate expression of dissent, as described by blogger and academic Evgeny Morozov.
Background on the PayPal Attacks and Amazon
Amazon, which previously provided DNS services for WikiLeaks, was among the first to withdraw support. On December 9th, BusinessInsider.com reported that Amazon.co.uk was selling the recently leaked diplomatic cables as an e-book. Following this, Amazon.co.uk ceased selling the bundle.
After this news, some members of Anonymous on Twitter suggested targeting Amazon.com. However, the attack never occurred. While it was possible that a DDoS attack might not have succeeded, this was not the sole reason for abandoning the plan. The extensive media coverage of the potential attack highlighted that it could negatively affect consumers, especially during the holiday season. Targeting a major online retailer at such a time was deemed inappropriate.
Conversely, the ongoing attacks on PayPal were both tested and strategic. These attacks do not cripple PayPal's ability to process payments but slow down their network enough to raise public awareness, thereby achieving Anonymous' goal.
