Two top hacktivist groups, Anonymous and TeaM p0isoN, are now working together to hack and harass banks in support of the Occupy Wall Street movement.
Announced in a YouTube video, the new campaign is called "Operation Robin Hood" and, like its titular character, the hacktivism effort seeks to "return the money to those who have been cheated by our system and most importantly to those hurt by our banks."
"Operation Robin Hood will take credit cards and donate to the 99% as well as various charities around the globe," the hackers, united as "p0isaNoN," say in the video. "The banks will be forced to reimburse the people there [sic] money back."
The campaign, announced on an Anonymous blog, does not specify how it will obtain credit cards or return any funds to affected parties, but that doesn't prevent the hacktivists from speaking in grandiose terms about the campaign's goals.
"It’s time for the banks to pay for their crimes and corruption," the hackers' announcement reads. "We are not waiting for our government to step up and take action. It’s time for the banks to pay for not protecting you and only causing harm. But why feel sorry for them while they make us pay every day? Make us over pay for their services? Make us pay all their little charges? Operation Robin Hood urges YOU, to now move your accounts into secure credit unions, before it’s too late while we hit them from the inside."
OpRobinHood, as it's called, has reportedly already begun. A Pastebin post allegedly from the group explains that the hackers have already exploited vulnerabilities on the sites of both The First National Bank of Long Island and National Bank of California.
Team Poison member "Phantom" claims to have manipulated the sites with JavaScript code to make a pop-up dialog box appear. The banks' online databases were not altered but could have been, Phantom said.
"This is just [a] warning for you to withdraw your money from banks," Phantom said.
