Hacktivist group Anonymous is responding to the current social tension. It releases a threat to hack the Minneapolis Police Department.
Following the death of George Floyd on May 25, Anonymous resurface and issues its threat against the Minneapolis Police Department. The hacker group threatens the police department of exposing its “many crimes to the world.”
The Minneapolis Police Department is at the center of the current social unrest in the United States. One of the department’s officers has already been charged with the murder of Mr. Floyd.
Cyberthreats and attacks
It appears that Anonymous is keeping its words. A number of online reports claim that the MPD’s website is already offline as of May 30. Some users report that accessing the website now requires user validation, a tactic to prevent DDoS attacks.
Hacktivist Group Anonymous Returns To Expose Minneapolis Police Department And Donald Trump.
Against impunity and the state sanctions street execution of #GeorgeFloyd. #IcantBreathe #GeorgeFloyd #BlackLivesMatterhttps://t.co/UqzGurBPpe
— Anonymous (@YourAnonCentral) June 1, 2020
Anonymous did not publicly own the taking down of the website. However, a user that claims affiliation with the hacking group shared news about the takedown.
The video threatening attacks on the police department website surface on May 28. A Facebook page known to have affiliations with hacking group shared it and now has more than 2 million views.
In the video, the narrator accuses the department of various crimes and various acts of violence and corruption. Wearing the symbolic Guy Fawkes mask, the narrator says:
“Sadly, in the vast majority of police killings, the only one left alive to tell the story is the officer who took the person’s life. This travesty has gone on for far too long… and now the people have had enough.”
Massive social tension
The death of Mr. Floyd sparked massive protests around the country, with the epicenter in Minneapolis. The state government has already deployed the National Guard troops to help in ending the riots.
Reports of looting and arson are all over the place. There are even some incidents where media personnel were arrested.
While most protests are relatively peaceful, there are some that have resorted to violence and riots. In order to prevent further damage properties, locals governments issue curfew and lockdown orders.
Apart from the violence and the riots, medical experts are worried about people flocking together in massive numbers. Experts warn that these massive protests can lead to a surge of coronavirus infection.
Anonymous has yet to release a follow-up with regards to its hacking effort. Nevertheless, many are keeping a close eye on these hacking collective with regards to their next move.
Image courtesy of Tom Roberts/Unsplash