Anonymous Launches Attack On Sony 347
RedEaredSlider writes "The hacker collective Anonymous has made good on its threat to attack Sony, having launched a distributed denial-of-service attack on Wednesday afternoon. The attack is revenge for the legal action taken against another hacker who modified a PlayStation 3. Sony Computer Entertainment America filed suit against George Hotz, also known as Geohot. Hotz had released a firmware modification that allowed a Sony PlayStation 3 to run other operating systems. Sony had removed that functionality some months before. The suit is still pending."
Ironic if (Score:5, Insightful)
It would be sweetly ironic if hacked Play Station 3s were used as part of the attack.
Re:Why DDOS? (Score:4, Insightful)
Not everyone wants a $10 off voucher for some Sony product as compensation for losing an important feature (to some).
The legal system doesn't work when going up against large corporations.
Re:That's preposterous! (Score:5, Insightful)
They dare to put offline servers owned by sony???
Don't they understand the concept of private property???
Sony is preventing people from using a feature on something they own.
The people are preventing Sony from using a feature on something they own.
Re:Why DDOS? (Score:5, Insightful)
It's not a free market while copyright and patent monopoly laws are distorting it. Face it, the free market won't sort it out, because sony has been rendered largely immune to free market effects by government-granted imaginary property monopolies.
Re:Why DDOS? (Score:3, Insightful)
Why not just avoid buying Sony products?
Sheesh! You gonna avoid the iPhone 5 [techtree.com] also?
Just stop it.. Okay? Don't be an idiot.. If you want to boycott Sony, you're gonna have to boycott everything... Maybe even toilet paper. Then you can learn what the left hand is really for..
Re:Why DDOS? (Score:2, Insightful)
Do you know they are teenage vigilantes?
They act like little criminal children. I doubt they are upstanding citizens.
How exactly is this Nazi?
They dont like the way a company behaves due to their own set of morals so they punish that company. This is a small group of people forcing others to their will. Bunch of freakin Nazis. Like the OP said - let the free market decide. If people dont like the company attitude then they will let them know through their purchases.
I don't approve of the DDoS (Score:5, Insightful)
DDoS accomplishes nothing and makes those who support hacking consoles look like criminals. This is just more ammunition for Sony to use in court.
We need to get a ruling that hacking your own hardware is legal. It's not ever going to happen with these guerilla practices.
Re:I don't approve of the DDoS (Score:4, Insightful)
...and makes those who support hacking consoles look like criminals.
I disagree - to some extent - yes, they do tarnish the image, but I feel the largest amount of tarnishing comes from media ignorance, and ignorance on the part of the non-technical.
While I'm not sure I agree with DDoSes... (Score:4, Insightful)
...they're as close to a sit-in as you can get, as far as non-violent but effective protest goes.
Often, illegal things have to be done to right wrongs, especially when the laws are written by those doing the wrongs.
(If the wrongs are severe enough, extremely illegal things may be morally OK, on the other hand. As in, using the second amendment to defend oneself against violations of rights.)
Re:Why DDOS? (Score:5, Insightful)
How exactly is this Nazi?
They dont like the way a company behaves due to their own set of morals so they punish that company. This is a small group of people forcing others to their will. Bunch of freakin Nazis.
Anonymous is acting like a vigilante group, not Nazis. Enacting their revenge on Sony because they believe - and rightly so - that Sony will not be brought to task for their actions by any authority. Not enough people know about Sony's shenanigans to make a difference to their bottom line so Anonymous wants to let Sony know they are not willing to just "take it" or stand idly by as Sony persecutes GeoHot for what he did to his own hardware.
Your definition of 'Nazi' can easily be applied to local police in small communities, political groups on a national scale and even Sony's board of directors (they are punishing GeoHot because they don't like the way he behaved due to their own set of greedy, rat bastard morals). I have extended family that were killed by the Nazis - in their homes, in the war and even some in concentration camps. I must say that I am offended by your casual and ignorant use of the term 'Nazi'.