Hackers Launch Cyberattack Spree Nov. 5, Guy Fawkes Day

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November 5 is Guy Fawkes Day in the U.K., and it’s become a popular day for attacks from hackers, particularly those associated with Anonymous, the hacktivist group which uses images of Guy Fawkes masks as a symbol. Numerous websites and organizations have reported attacks, and additional cyberattacks are expected to continue throughout the day.

The Register’s Anna Leach reported, “American news channel NBC was prank-hacked last night with a Guy Fawkes image, and the traditional children’s rhyme: ‘Remember, remember the fifth of November, gunpowder, treason and plot / I know of no reason why the gunpowder treason should ever be forgot.'”

PCMag’s David Murphy wrote, “Additionally, the site’s attackers claimed to have stolen user names and passwords from NBC’s site, but NBC hasn’t officially verified the these claims, nor suggested which of its users might be affected if the attackers’ claims are actually true.”

CNET’s Violet Blue noted, “The press arm for Anonymous has announced that it has begun its hacking spree for the 5th of November — Guy Fawkes Day — and claims to have dumped user and employee account information on accounts from PayPal, Symantec, Australian government Web sites and much more.” She added, “The hacktivists have also included in its Nov. 5th announcements tonight the hacking and defacement of Australian government sites, ImageShack and PayPal (claiming a zero day exploit), Ascension Australia, NBC.com and Lady Gaga’s fan site (claimed for the spree by ‘Pyknic’), Saturday Night Live’s Web site, Australian steel and mining company Arcelor Mittal, homewares website GiftNow, the Greek City website, the Ghana Consulate Web site, and claim to have leaked VMware ESX Server Kernel source code via twitter today.”

According to The Telegraph, “The hacktivist group Anonymous has threatened to mark today, November 5, with an online attack on Zynga, the struggling social gaming company. Anonymous, whose supporters have adopted a Guy Fawkes mask as their public face, made the threats, addressed to Zynga and Facebook users, last week. Elements of loosely-affiliated group made similar threats last year against Facebook, which came to nothing.”