The distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks that took down the websites of the African National Congress (ANC.org.za) and Independent Newspapers (IOL.co.za), used a botnet to disrupt the websites.\u00a0This is according to the anonymous person behind the attacks.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe use bots like Andromeda, Pandora, and Athena,\u201d the hacker-activist going by Anonymous Africa, or @zim4thewin on Twitter (henceforth Invader Zim<\/em>), told MyBroadband. \u201c[It\u2019s] very easy to create your own botnet.\u201d<\/p>\n When asked via Twitter earlier today (14 June 2013) about the attack on the ANC website, Invader Zim said that they would be using a \u201ctsunami DDoS\u201d against the main ANC website.<\/p>\n Asked for more details about what they meant by this exactly, Zim said that it\u2019s \u201cjust an adjective\u201d.<\/p>\n Part of Invader Zim\u2019s modus operandi is to warn organisations via Twitter before the attacks are launched on their websites.<\/p>\n Asked why they provide advance warning, Zim said it\u2019s purely because the attack has more impact for both the viewers and the target, as there is nothing the target can do.<\/p>\n According to Zim, they use only Twitter as a warning mechanism.<\/p>\n \u201cWe limit our methods of communication for security sake.\u201d<\/p>\n Responding to comments that Invader Zim had infringed on others\u2019 freedom of speech by disrupting the websites they targeted, Zim argued that it was just a protest and no permanent damage was done.<\/p>\n \u201cThey are free to make any comments they want, no-one has taken away that right,\u201d Zim said, adding that they (Anonymous Africa) are free to protest their opinion.<\/p>\n \u201cWe did no permanent damage and made no demands against free speech. We are just letting the world know that the ANC supports the mass murderer Mugabe and this is a powerful way of getting our message across,\u201d Zim said.<\/p>\n What\u2019s next for Invader Zim?<\/p>\n \u201cSwaziland is next on our list, so expect targets from there.\u201d<\/p>\n ANC website attack: Afrihost responds<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n ANC website going down: Anonymous<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n IOL hit by DoS attack<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n SAPS website hacker interviewed<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Spyware servers in South Africa: the plot thickens<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\nTwitter warnings<\/h3>\n
Freedom of speech?<\/h3>\n
Next target<\/h3>\n
More on Anonymous and hacktivism in South Africa<\/h3>\n