A hacktivist group calling itself TheWikiBoat has threatened to launch denial-of-service attacks today (May 25) against a host of multinational companies' websites, including McDonald's, Apple, Walmart, Best Buy and dozens of others.
In a Pastebin post dated April 11, TheWikiBoat announced " Operation NewSon," (OpNewSon) a campaign to "hit and attack several high corporate entities." The group said in addition to the traffic-flooding attacks, it would also release "precious classified data on the already set out list of targets we do have." Those targets include AT&T, Toyota, Wells Fargo, IBM and Chevron, Fox News reported.
On its Twitter feed, TheWikiBoat said the major attacks would begin today at 4 p.m. PST.
"Spread the word as much as possible as we plan to take on the great elite," the Anonymous-affiliated hackers wrote. In addition to hacking for "the lulz" (Internet speak for "laughs"), TheWikiBoat said, "We also wish that this operation make a difference. We are 'sticking it to the man' so to speak."
In its announcement, TheWikiBoat included directions for their supporters on how to download a Low Orbit Ion Cannon (LOIC), a denial-of-service tool often used by hacktivist networks including Anonymous and LulzSec.
Yesterday, Kaspersky Lab reported that the FBI Cyber Division warned Apple, McDonald's, ExxonMobil, Hewlett-Packard, Bank of America, Tesco, BT, Walmart and other top companies about TheWikiBoat's plan.
TheWikiBoat promptly taunted those trying to stop them. In a Twitter post earlier today, the hackers wrote, "FBI warning for #OpNewSon? Heh, you're too late."
