A security consultant with Sophos systems is warning that users may
be inadvertently participating in the DDoS assault against various .gov websites by clicking on a link being circulated by the hacker collective.
In a blog post on Sophos’ “Naked Security” blog, Sophos’ Graham Cluley says that members of Anonymous distributed links via social media websites that when clicked launch a Web version of the Low Impact Ion Cannon tool — Anonymous’ favoured vehicle to coordinate DDoS attacks — coded in JavaScript.
“Anonymous might be hoping that participants could argue that they did not knowingly assist in the DDoS attack, and clicked on the link in innocence without realizing what it would do,” wrote Mr. Cluley.
Anonymous has been actively recruiting participants to its campaign — some willing and some unwilling.
By mid-day Friday, these links were being shared at a rate of 10 to 18 times per minute.
As of Friday afternoon, justice.gov and FBI.gov still appeared to be operating normally.
