WASHINGTON, Feb. 11 (UPI) — Hactivist group Anonymous has launched “Operation ISIS” as it tries to take down the Islamic State terrorist group’s Internet presence.
Its mission started after the attack on satirical French magazine Charlie Hebdo, which killed 12 people.
“We, Anonymous around the world, have decided to declare war on you the terrorists,” it said after the attack.
The group made good on its threat, shutting down more than 1,500 accounts on Facebook and Twitter associated with IS.
In a video, Anonymous assured IS this would not be the last of its efforts to destroy the terrorist group virtually.
“We are Muslims, Christians, Jews. We are hackers, crackers, Hacktivist, phishers, agents, spies, or just the guy from next door. We are young and old, gay or straight […] we come from all races, countries, religions and ethnicities — united as one, divided by zero. We are Anonymous,” says the narrator. “We will hunt you, take down your sites, accounts, emails, and expose you. From now on, there [will be] no safe place for you online – you will be treated like a virus, and we are the cure. We own the internet now.”
IS has tried to combat Anonymous’ efforts by releasing a social media guide that allows users to create an account undetected by the hackers.
The cyber war between the two groups is mounting some collateral damage. In retaliation to the Anonymous hacks, IS hacked the social media of United States service members’ families and issued threats against military spouses.
The CyberCaliphate has also hacked several news websites.
“You think you’re safe but IS is already here. #CyberCaliphate got into your PC and smartphone,” said one threat.
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