Anonymous Targets Sony

Noted hacking group Anonymous has lined up Sony in its crosshairs, saying the firm’s treatment of PS3 hackers George “Geohot” Hotz and Graf Chokolo has been “wholly unforgivable.”

In a post on its website the group says: “Congratulations, Sony. You have now received the undivided attention of Anonymous. Your recent legal action against our fellow hackers, Geohot and Graf Chokolo, has not only alarmed us, it has been deemed wholly unforgivable.”

The group goes on to accuse Sony of having “abused the judicial system in an attempt to censor information on how your products work,” referring to its ongoing legal action against the two PlayStation 3 hackers and its attempts to find out how many people downloaded Hotz’s jailbreak files.

“You have victimised your own customers merely for possessing and sharing information,” it continues, “and continue to target every person who seeks this information. In doing so you have violated the privacy of thousands.

“This is information they were willing to teach to the world for free. The very same information you wish to suppress for [the] sake of corporate greed and complete control of [your] users. Now you will experience the wrath of Anonymous.”

Sony’s removal last year of PS3’s OtherOS function has also raised the group’s ire, with Anonymous accusing Sony of “a corporate philosophy that would deny consumers the right to use products they have paid for, and rightfully own, in the manner of their choosing.” Sony is currently the subject of a class-action lawsuit brought by PS3 owners displeased by the feature’s removal.

Sony aside, the increasingly political hacking group has targeted the likes of the Iranian and Egyptian governments, Bank Of America and the Church of Scientology. Operation Sony is considered part of Operation Payback, a coordinated spate of DDOS attacks carried out against opponents of internet piracy and free speech.

Source: AnonNews