Wikileaks merge (Assange loses extradition appeal)

Biggins · 28-11-2010 05:40PM #1

Just been announced by SKY newsflash that Wikileaks servers are under DOS attack.
No news yet on who by but we can guess who would like to see it shut down just before they release more damaging documents within hours! :rolleyes:

Details on this further will come within minutes I'm sure on main world websites.

http://wikileaks.org/

liah · 28-11-2010 05:42PM

From who?

Normally these sorts of things can be attributed to 4chan, but I'd imagine 4chan and Wikileaks wouldn't have much bad blood considering the premise of Wikileaks and the 4chan mentality of anti-authority.

Very curious as to where the attack is coming from.

EDIT: What documents are they meant to be releasing today?

nyarlothothep · 28-11-2010 05:43PM

HOLY SH1T!!!! I want to see those documents dissseminated. They can just release them on another site.

Biggins · 28-11-2010 05:44PM

liah wrote: »

From who?

Normally these sorts of things can be attributed to 4chan, but I'd imagine 4chan and Wikileaks wouldn't have much bad blood considering the premise of Wikileaks and the 4chan mentality of anti-authority.

Very curious as to where the attack is coming from.

You and I can guess but who ever is the REAL mastermind behind it, better be sure their attack is worth it.

The "insurance file" that has been downloaded by many in case someone tries such tactics, is out there and ready to be opened upon release of the right encryption key!

Biggins · 28-11-2010 05:49PM

liah wrote: »

EDIT: What documents are they meant to be releasing today?

Around a quarter of a million potentially embarrassing and sensitive US documents are due to be published later today by whistleblower website WikiLeaks.
The secret files - believed to be the first batch of up to 2.7 million documents to be published - are expected to include communications between Washington and US embassies around the world.

President Barack Obama's government has claimed the move will put countless lives at risk, threaten global counter-terrorism operations and jeopardise US relations with its allies.
Last night, the US State Department released a letter from its top lawyer to WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange telling him to stop the "illegal" publication of the documents.
It came as US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and other top American officials reached out to numerous world leaders about the imminent release.

The confidential cables are thought to include candid assessments of foreign leaders and their policies, and could erode trust in the US as a diplomatic partner.
There is going to be some embarrassment certainly for Gordon Brown but even more so for David Cameron who was not very highly regarded by the Obama administration or by the US ambassador here.

http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/World-News/WikiLeaks-Set-To-Reveal-Secret-US-Files-Between-Washington-And-US-Embassies-Around-The-World/Article/201011415836445?lpos=World_News_Carousel_Region_1&lid=ARTICLE_15836445_WikiLeaks_Set_To_Reveal_Secret_US_Files_Between_Washington_And_US_Embassies_Around_The_World

They had to report the attack currently ongoing - by Twitter!

Zillah · 28-11-2010 05:49PM

Wikileaks has already shared an encrypted file to thousands of people via bittorrent over the last few weeks, a ddos attack is completely pointless. I'd imagine this is some hacker/group doing it for the hell of it rather than, say, the CIA pointlessly bringing attention to the issue for no real benefit.

Hell, maybe Assange arranged this himself to raise the profile.

Clawdeeus · 28-11-2010 05:51PM

Biggins wrote: »

Just been announced by SKY news flash that Wikileaks servers are under DOS attack.
No news yet on who by but we can guess who would like to see it shut down just before they release more damaging documents within hours! :rolleyes:

Details on this further will come within minutes I'm sure on main world websites.

http://wikileaks.org/

Where does it say this?

aidan_walsh · 28-11-2010 05:52PM

/eyes the Conspiracy Theories forum suspiciously

Biggins · 28-11-2010 05:53PM

Clawdeeus wrote: »

Where does it say this?

Sky news.
http://news.sky.com/skynews/

See the newsflash headline and they announced it live on air.

28-11-2010 05:54PM

Generally it's 4chan/Anonymous who are behind these attacks, but as liah said, they are pretty much after the same goal. If you type wikileaks attack twitter, it brings up the twitter feed that gets automatically updated anytime anyone tweets it. The news of it is spreading quickly

Clawdeeus · 28-11-2010 05:56PM

Biggins wrote: »

They had to report the attack currently ongoing - by Twitter!

My bad, it just dosent say it on the site. Could be anyone, what I do know is the US can shut down basically any site it wants IF it is a "national security issue" the FBI tried to build a case saying Wikileaks was just such a site, but was unsuccessful.

The websites themselves these days are pretty much pointless though, just slap em on a P2P, job done.

Biggins · 28-11-2010 05:58PM

See: http://twitter.com/wikileaks/statuses/27946629554

Sky are probably updating their site as we speak - they DID say it on air and the newsflash of the attack was on their site a minute ago!

I wonder what "Activate Reston5." means to certain people out there!!!

28-11-2010 06:01PM

Project BO move to coms channel S. Activate Reston5.

It sounds like something from a James Bond movie.

Clawdeeus · 28-11-2010 06:02PM

Deleted User wrote: »

It sounds like something from a James Bond movie.

It does, Wikileaks really are good at self promotion.

Biggins · 28-11-2010 06:02PM

Deleted User wrote: »

It sounds like something from a James Bond movie.

It does don't it!
Cyber wars at their strangest! :pac:

Biggins · 28-11-2010 06:03PM

Clawdeeus wrote: »

It does, Wikileaks really are good at self promotion.

Maybe Ryanair O'Leary has been giving them tips!

sponsoredwalk · 28-11-2010 06:04PM

liah wrote: »

From who?

Normally these sorts of things can be attributed to 4chan, but I'd imagine 4chan and Wikileaks wouldn't have much bad blood considering the premise of Wikileaks and the 4chan mentality of anti-authority.

Very curious as to where the attack is coming from.

EDIT: What documents are they meant to be releasing today?

4chan? Seriously?

Biggins · 28-11-2010 06:07PM

El Pais, Le Monde, Speigel, Guardian & NYT will publish many US embassy cables tonight, even if WikiLeaks goes down.
less than 5 seconds ago via web

http://twitter.com/wikileaks

sponsoredwalk · 28-11-2010 06:07PM

Deleted User wrote: »

It sounds like something from a James Bond movie.

Are we to expect sexist and racist jokes next? I seen one a while ago & he
gives some Indian guy some money & says "That'll keep you in curry for
a while" :pac:

Anyway I don't see the point in raiding their servers. These people were
smart enough to put an encrypted file online potentially holding all of the
secrets if something were to happen so I think theyd'd have the odd
backup copy of this latest treasure trove.

edit: See what I mean, they were smart enough to give the files to Der Spiegel et. al... already.

liah · 28-11-2010 06:12PM

sponsoredwalk wrote: »

4chan? Seriously?

They are responsible for Anonymous, attacks against RIAA/MPAA, they harrass people (including children as young as 8), etc. Generally, if there's a big attack going on anywhere on the internet, 90% chance it's 4chan related. They're pretty notorious for it.

This case will probably fall into that 10% though. 4chan has no reason to attack Wikileaks. I would be very surprised if it were them.

28-11-2010 06:14PM

Didn't they take out infact.ie recently?

Biggins · 28-11-2010 06:16PM

sponsoredwalk wrote: »

...they were smart enough to give the files to Der Spiegel et. al... already.

I'd guess that some of the media outlets have been given certain tit-bits to wet their appetite.

Meanwhile Britain has issued a D Notice!!!! (Doesn't want the British people to know)
In other words, the British press has been silenced (by request!) on the actual contents and are not supposed to mention anything within the documents.
I guess The Guardian is ignoring that and opting that its worth the wrath of the state agencies, for the sake of publishing!

sponsoredwalk · 28-11-2010 06:24PM

liah wrote: »

They are responsible for Anonymous, attacks against RIAA/MPAA, they harrass people (including children as young as 8), etc. Generally, if there's a big attack going on anywhere on the internet, 90% chance it's 4chan related. They're pretty notorious for it.

This case will probably fall into that 10% though. 4chan has no reason to attack Wikileaks. I would be very surprised if it were them.

They harass Justin Beiber, and Scientologists, & youtube by putting
porn on it

They would hardly stray into the political arena & if they
did there is no way they would target wikileaks. They would literally be
the most likely candidate for their unadulated support but yeah,
I understand how you'd think of them, but thinking about what
they do there is no way in hell it would be them.

@ Biggins, it doesn't surprise me about Britain seeing it is practically
a police state that is against freedom.

lmaopml · 28-11-2010 06:25PM

Biggins wrote: »

See: http://twitter.com/wikileaks/statuses/27946629554

Sky are probably updating their site as we speak - they DID say it on air and the newsflash of the attack was on their site a minute ago!

I wonder what "Activate Reston5." means to certain people out there!!!

Activate a restart on 5?

Agree with liah, doubt it's 4chan. It may be an inside job to boost hits and let the world know the site responsible for all the news stories, a little taster of the drama about to unfold, and some advertising to boot -

hmmm covert and dramatic - Cyber warfare is afoot my dear Watson :eek:

Pompey Magnus · 28-11-2010 06:25PM

liah wrote: »

They are responsible for Anonymous, attacks against RIAA/MPAA, they harrass people (including children as young as 8), etc. Generally, if there's a big attack going on anywhere on the internet, 90% chance it's 4chan related. They're pretty notorious for it.

This case will probably fall into that 10% though. 4chan has no reason to attack Wikileaks. I would be very surprised if it were them.

Unless it actually is 4chan attacking wikileaks knowing that the attack will not hinder the release of the documents but will have the affect of publicising the release as well as double bluffing people into thinking it may be the American establishment, thus making them look even worse...or it could be a triple bluff where the American establishment hope to bluff people into assuming its a double bluff....

sponsoredwalk · 28-11-2010 06:27PM

Pompey Magnus wrote: »

Unless it actually is 4chan attacking wikileaks knowing that the attack will not hinder the release of the documents but will have the affect of publicising the release as well as double bluffing people into thinking it may be the American establishment, thus making them look even worse...or it could be a triple bluff where the American establishment hope to bluff people into assuming its a double bluff....

Ah the joys of psychological warfare...

28-11-2010 06:27PM

Pompey Magnus wrote: »

Unless it actually is 4chan attacking wikileaks knowing that the attack will not hinder the release of the documents but will have the affect of publicising the release as well as double bluffing people into thinking it may be the American establishment, thus making them look even worse...or it could be a triple bluff where the American establishment hope to bluff people into assuming its a double bluff....

Guh?

Nodin · 28-11-2010 06:29PM

Pompey Magnus wrote: »

...or it could be a triple bluff where the American establishment hope to bluff people into assuming its a double bluff....

Or they could have been hoovering the floor of the room where the mainframe is and - when they were finished - pulled out the wrong plug by mistake*.

*based on a true story.

Clawdeeus · 28-11-2010 06:32PM

Could be publicity stunt, they have said in the past their biggest obstacle is getting people to give a ****.

It will be interesting to see how critical other governments are of any activities detailed in the documents, or if they are special to the US or just look like the dirty underbelly of diplomacy that all countries get up to.

Also, wasnt the guy who got all these files a private? I mean, they cant be THAT secret if any dude can take em if he is in the military intelligence.

Biggins · 28-11-2010 06:36PM

Clawdeeus wrote: »

Could be publicity stunt, they have said in the past their biggest obstacle is getting people to give a ****.

It could be... but...
If ANYONE was able to show it was just a stunt, their whole credibility & trust built up with certain media sources would be jeopardised - and they know it too!
I don't think they would take that chance alone.

I suspect there is a genuine denial of service attack myself.

Clawdeeus wrote: »

Also, wasn't the guy who got all these files a private? I mean, they cant be THAT secret if any dude can take em if he is in the military intelligence.

The guy had access to a database system that connects all the American communication systems within all departments.
His level of access was up to "Top Secret" and "D4" (deny access to foreign...).
There is approx 15,000 files alone that are marked as the two above categories - besides others.

My name is URL · 28-11-2010 06:36PM

Anyone else think it's odd that over the last few days, the US has continued to 'warn' nations of the impending release even though said warnings were quickly being made public.. adding fuel to the fire? Seriously, sometimes I think it's all just a diversionary tactic to draw attention away from things happening today. What have any of the leaks actually achieved yet other than to create headlines and encourage online nattering?

Has anyone been held to account over the actions of the US yet.. other than the guy who is supposedly responsible for all these leaks?

Wikileaks merge (Assange loses extradition appeal)

Should Julian Assange be jailed or free'd ?? 173 votes

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