Today in TechAnonymous hackers pledge to destroy Facebook on November 5
Members of the hacker collective Anonymous have already been linked to attacks on financial institutions and even the federal government, so it should come as no surprise that the world's largest social network, Facebook, would eventually become a target. The group has released a video statement announcing that on November 5, the network will be destroyed.
Anonymous has taken issue with Facebook's well-publicized privacy issues, and claims that the company sells information to government agencies for the purpose of spying. The video also states "Everything you do on Facebook stays on Facebook regardless of your privacy settings, and deleting your account is impossible, even if you delete your account, all your personal info stays on Facebook and can be recovered at any time."
The chosen date of November 5 carries some significance to the group, as it was on that date in 1605 when Guy Fawkes and his co-conspirators attempted to blow up the British House of Lords and kill King James. The anti-government vigilante known as "V" in the movie and comic series V for Vendetta wears a mask bearing Fawkes' likeness. V has become a mascot for Anonymous, and members often wear a similar mask when attending public protests and other organized events.
Facebook is well known for employing skilled computer gurus, and the company holds regular "Hackathons" for its programmers to keep their skills sharp. Anonymous has now given the company months of advance notice to prepare for the attack, so when November 5 eventually rolls around, it will be interesting to see if Facebook crumbles or comes out on top.
[Image credit: Sklathill]
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