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Anonymous Retaliates With Gov., Media Web Site Shutdowns After Megaupload Arrests
In what the "hacktivism" group Anonymous is calling the largest operation in the group's history, it is targeting government and multimedia sites in response to today's arrests and shut down of the file-sharing site Megauploads.
The distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks, started this afternoon, have already shut down the Web sites of the Department of Justice, Universal Music, Motion Picture Association of America, Recording Industry Association of America, and the U.S. Copyright Office. And, as of this afternoon, the list of targeted Web sites is growing.
The new rounds of attacks, named "Operation Donkey Punch," Â is " The Largest Attack Ever by Anonymous -- 5,635 People Confirmed Using #LOIC to Bring Down Sites!," according to an Anonymous Twitter feed.
The actions were spurred after this morning's Justice Department arrest of seven individuals in Auckland, New Zealand connected with the file-sharing Web site Megaupload. They were charged with multiple counts of copyright infringement and conspiracy. According to the grand jury indictment, the company received $175 million in subscription fees, while causing $500 billion in damages by illegally sharing copyright goods.
While the group is claiming that the attacks on government sites is connected with the Megaupload arrests, it is also bringing down Web sites of SOPA/PIPA supporters, including many Hollywood industry groups.
Keep following Redmondmag.com for more information on this breaking news story.