WhyWeProtest and Scientology-Exposed "Will Be Back Up"

Sometime late November 3rd, hours after the "rooting" of two Anonymous websites, their forums and related IRC chat channels, a simple page returns explaining the situation. Embedded in the now single page site at WhyWeProtest is a chatroom applet allowing visitors to join the ongoing chat for the website as they work to restore services. Root level passwords were gained on three separate "boxes" allowing data to be stolen and deleted from both sites, according to Sandiegoanon.com, who withstood "being heavily DDoSed" on the same date. (See "Anon Vs. Anon: "Chanology is Over, Go Home")

While the San Diego Anonymous site reported that day that the stolen data represented security concerns for those who used personal information when joining the protest against Scientology, site administrators and protest organizers say that it is unlikely the passwords can be gathered from the stolen data.

"Python (the server backend) takes a nice long string, and uses it to help randomize the password with standard security randomizing, meaning your password can't be gathered from the data, thus, salted", according to one anon at the mIRC channel #whyweprotest.

"The passwords are salted, which means it is very difficult to crack them.. chances are very very high that your password is fine, but personally I changed mine", said a protest organizer during a #socal Anonymous meeting November 5th.

Suspicions of who rooted the two sites include Scientology itself as "OSA", "Co$", and "Scilons", however even among the less tech savvy members of the Chanology movement these suspicions are weak, and often played out as "Devil's Advocate" arguments. Dialogue ranges between possible individuals who might have commited the attack, some being defended, others not at all. Most accounts say the attack happened from within Anonymous itself, likely from elements which prompted the infamous Fox 11 story featuring strong "terrorist" language and a clip of a van being blown up. Finding humor in the overpowering presentation, this same element within Anonymous is sometimes referred to as the "partyvan". One member attributes the attack to "one of the people from the partyvan network that wasn't a fan. Having said that, other people from PV have been very helpful in solving this problem"

The impact of the loss of the sites seems to have been minimal as Anonymous protestors continue to work, some even praising the loss of their forums and websites as removing clutter and sharpening focus. Others point out that the attack only served to point out a weakness in thier security. The event has already been absorbed into the language and movement of the Chanology group with barely a complaint. Server admins working on restoring WhyWeProtest (WWP) and Scientology-Exposed (S-ex) predict the site will be up late November 6th. "(We) might have something like a good backup from only a week or so ago tomorrow." Failing that, WWP and S-ex expect they "might have to go with one from a month ago."

While lurking in #socal, an Anonymous IRC chat channel at ares.suppressivepersons.org, a planned organization meeting begins. The normal chaos, randomness and trolling seems to die at once. The meeting organizer begins without preamble, explaining the meeting place for the next protest:

" : Last week we determined that we will be meeting in Pasadena at the Ideal Org, from 3pm -> 7pm

:every one knows standard procedure

: bring water, flyers, friends

:signs

:we've been a bit low on signs lately so some new ones aimed at the public might be good

:I do believe we are going to focus more on the Colorado blvd aspect of Pasadena this time.. but we need to be careful not to block the sidewalk

:so it has been suggested that we meet at the Org, and then take trips as desired to do a "moving picket" down a few blocks to gather attention

:but not annoying the shop keepers and police by staying out there"

The meeting moves on to new topics, ideas passed around, including moving away from the use of "meme's" on the new signs which only seem to confuse the general public not familiar with thier meanings. Despite the normal chaos associated with Anonymous, the meeting is smooth and its members cooperative and eager. As the topic moves to the downed sites, most of the members are still focused on the upcoming protest. Despite strong claims by the attackers, "Chanology is Over, go HOME", Project Chanology has moved on without pause in it's now 10 month, sustained movement against the Church of Scientology.

" ...the reality is that Anonymous consistently feasts on its own. This is not new by any means."

UPDATE: As of 11/8/08 Why We Protest is still not up. Admins say the site should be back up 11/8 in the evening. Anonymous prepares for it's 11/8/08, "Remember, Remember the 8th of November" worldwide protest.