14 DAY TRIAL // Hacktivists from all over the world are preparing for online and real-world protests. Anonymous Philippines have already started their November 5 protests by launching cyberattacks against several government websites.
The hackers have defaced a number of websites with anti-corruption messages.
“We apologize for this inconvenience, but this is the only easiest way we could convey our message to you, our dear brothers and sisters who are tired of this cruelty and this false democracy, tired of this government and the politicians who only think about themselves,” the hacktivists noted.
“The government, in many ways, has failed its Filipino citizens. We have been deprived of things, which they have promised to give; what our late heroes have promised us to give. Let us remind the government that fairness, justice and freedom are more than words. They are perspectives.”
The list of defaced websites includes the Insurance Commission, the Office of the Ombudsman, the Embassy of the Philippines in Seoul, and various sites belonging to cities, municipalities and other government organizations. The hackers provide a complete list of defaced websites on their Facebook page.
In addition to defacing websites, the hacktivists have also launched distributed denial-of-service (DDOS) attacks. The targets of DDOS attacks include the Bureau of Customs, the Philippine National Police, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, Congress, and the Department of Interior and Local Government.
Officials cited by the Sun Star have urged Anonymous Philippines to stop launching cyberattacks against government websites, arguing that there are other ways in which they can express their views.
Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. noted that legal action would be taken against those involved in the attacks.
Around 40 high-profile websites have been targeted over the weekend. At the time of writing, some of them display an “under maintenance” message, but most of them have been restored and are working properly.