Anonymous members are fighting ISIS hackers over the internet in a high-profile campaign to bring down their insidious propaganda arm.
'What can a load of guys sat behind computers do to stop ISIS?' was a question we saw pop up on Twitter the other day.
We've seen people call Anonymous 'keyboard warriors' and other words to that effect after #OpISIS was stepped up and #OpParis was launched to attack ISIS accounts in the wake of the terrorist atrocities in Paris.
https://twitter.com/sibylpain/status/666278048115879936
Anonymous' special @OpParisOfficial account now claims to have taken down more than 20,000 Islamic State-linked Twitter accounts.
But stopping the spread of online propaganda is just the tip of the iceberg, according to
a statement on Pastebin from @AnonPress which explained the three major lines of attack its particular faction was undertaking under #OpISIS.
https://twitter.com/AnonPress/status/666960828382502913
Recruitment
"We target areas of influence, particularly toward the young and impressionable, and attempt to shut them down at the source.
"This is to stop the glamorization of attacks and ISIS' actions to young people around the world. These are people who are good at coercing and influencing others to do their own bidding.
"One of the stark issues facing the West is people leaving their respective country to join ISIS and commit atrocities, and it is these initial lines of manipulation we aim to sever.
Location
"Members and supporters of ISIS aren't the most technologically aware. They do leave location data in photographs, they don't cover their tracks and they sometimes tweet with location services on.
"I don't think it needs detailing why uncovering geographical information on these people is beneficial, especially when passed to the relevant authorities."
Information
"Alongside regular communications are documents and other information that can be useful not only in understanding how ISIS operates and plans their attacks, but also the nature of them and their exit-strategies as well.
"We don't expect to be able to stop attacks like those seen in Paris, but the information we can offer is of use to people who can."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZfyVVLGWivo
