OpIcarus, the Anonymous operation that aimed to launch a barrage of DDoS attacks against the banking sector, has reached phase three, which is now called OpMayhem (Fight Club reference) and is targeting stock exchanges all over the world.
In a video released on YouTube over the weekend, the hacker collective laid out a plan of attack for the rest of the month, gathering all members (called Anons) to rally and launch coordinated attacks on global stock markets.
At the time of writing, the group has successfully launched DDoS attacks against the NYSE Euronext Market, the London Stock Exchange, Nasdaq Baltic, the Philippines Stock Exchange, the Lao Security Exchange, the Turkey Stock Exchange (Borsa Istanbul), the Athens Exchange Group, and the Panama Stock Exchange.
If you think these are five-minute DDoS bursts while the hackers take a screenshot and brag on social media, then you're in for a surprise.
The DDoS attack that took place on June 2 and targeted the London Stock Exchange forced its website to stay offline for two hours, even if market transactions continued to operate, being on separate servers.
Anonymous: All stock markets are targets
The hackers don't have a particular list of targets in mind, and in a statement uploaded on PasteBin, the group simply pointed to a link that listed all stock markets in the world in alphabetical order, as their future targets.
While the first phase of OpIcarus went almost unnoticed, phase two, which took place in the month of March, successfully launched DDoS attacks on banking portals all over the world. In a tweet, an Anonymous member said they hit at least 67 banks.
Below is a YouTube video put out by the hackers, along with tweets sent out through the first week of June, whenever the group's members would carry out attacks.
#OpIcarus @Op_Icarus NYSE Euronext Market #offline #TangoDown pic.twitter.com/DrKPkiNBne — The Voice (@The_Voice6667) June 1, 2016
@mcaddosteam @Op_Icarus #OpIcarus London Stock Exchange #tangodown #offline. Great job. pic.twitter.com/DmMva5cmSQ — The Voice (@The_Voice6667) June 2, 2016
@Op_Icarus Nasdaq Baltic #TangoDown #Offline #OpIcarus #ProjectMayhem 2016 Offline all morning. We do not forgive. pic.twitter.com/5WbdDaozEk — The Voice (@The_Voice6667) June 5, 2016
RT mcaddosteam: Philippine Stock Exchange #OpIcarus #TangoDown #Offline #Phase3… https://t.co/XzoslPqYQb pic.twitter.com/Q0XBdSqEPg — Houston, we have a (@tangodownwatch) June 6, 2016
Lao Security Exchange #TangoDown #OpIcarus #Phase3 @The_Voice6667 https://t.co/NEprpvFEh4https://t.co/VqZkKvcRyA pic.twitter.com/PG0YqfKsLQ — MCA&PHU DDOS TEAM (@mcaddosteam) June 5, 2016
https://t.co/0Vz1nOrRuZ turkey stock exchange #tangodown #Oplcarus pic.twitter.com/9gVIUl2YJ0 — CRYPTIC SEC (@Cryptic_Sec_) May 20, 2016
Athens Exchange Group - Hellenic Exchanges DOWN by #Anonymous #TangoDown #OpIcarus @HackRead @RT_com @ekathimerini pic.twitter.com/dASYdrxN7I — sh4d0wx (@_sh4d0wx) June 6, 2016
#OpIcarus #ShutDownTheBanks #FreeGolanHeights #Anonymous Panama Stock Ex website failed server change @BVPanama pic.twitter.com/gGa9JA3GjA — BanksDropLikeFlies (@iandwearehere_) June 2, 2016