OC Press Release: DDoS attacks on Scientology

[admin]

OPERATION CLAMBAKE PRESS RELEASE

http://www.xenu.net/news/20080122-OC_pressrelease.html

Stavanger, 22.01.2008:

Some Internet channels have reported that a group called "Anonymous" have started a DDoS attack on the Church of Scientology:

* Wikinews: Hackers attack Church of Scientology website
* Partyvan: Project Chanology
* There is also an obscure message on YouTube announcing a "war" against Scientology.

The author of Operation Clambake does not condone such activity. Attacking Scientology like that will just make them play the religious persecution card. They will use it to defend their own counter actions when they try to shatter criticism and crush critics without mercy. I believe we are better than this cult and, face to face using democratic tools, most free and thinking individuals will see through their charade.

People should be able to have easy access to both sides and make up their own opinions. Freedom of speech means we need to allow all to speak - including those we strongly disagree with. I am of the opinion that the Church of Scientology is a criminal organisation and a cult which is designed by its delusional founder to abuse people. I am still committed to fight for their right to speak their opinion.

I support and appreciate all who want to help inform others about the dangers of Scientology, but I urge all to use methods that separate us from those we want to fight or criticise.

Disclaimer: We have not seen prove that CoS are victims of DDoS attacks. Perhaps all the hubbub over the Tom Cruise video caused an unexpected increase in legitimate traffic which their systems couldn't take, and they maliciously try to blame the collapse of their sites on an imaginary DDoS. Perhaps they are honestly mistaking legitimate traffic for a DDoS. Perhaps they are indeed being DDoS'ed. It doesn't really matter, it all boils down to the same: the very people who say they can solve all of humanity's problems are not even capable of keeping a website up and running. This immense organization of "eight million" brilliant, dedicated and disciplined people, of which a good percentage supposedly has supernatural abilities, is not even able to respond to a sudden increase in network traffic. The merchants of "the way to success" prove to be an utter failure even in their own house.

Take care.

Regards,
Andreas Heldal-Lund
Operation Clambake
Phone: +47 88 00 66 66
E-mail: ahl@xenu.net
_________________
Andreas @ www.xenu.net
- Life is not a test.

[ron's hat]

['Alert']

I think this thread should be a "Sticky" at the top of the page.

What is being done by these 'hackers' and affiliates is not only wrong, but they are spamming other critical forums and are drowning out the sharing of information that lurkers should have the chance to read.
_________________

Beyond Horizons' current location:
Making Waves and Popping Qwiffs Since the Dawn of Time!

Rest in Peace, you are loved

[admin]

ron's hat,

In life, in real ethical dilemmas, there are no easy or simple answers that incorporates all eventualities or consequences. For me personally it is important to define as best I can my personal core values - what is ultimately right in my mind based on all I at any time know. Being aware of where and on what I stand makes it is easier to feel where I lean the most when faced with all life throws at me. Getting involved in this fight was one of those big ethical dilemmas for me.

One philosophical guideline that I use a lot in my life is inspired by Kant's "categorical imperative":

[NattyP]

Two things:

1.) I agree with 'Alert' that this should be a sticky.

2.) F@ck, Andreas....you quoted Kant. Kant made my brain hurt in college!

Respeck!
_________________
John Carmichael: Are you a homo? Have you come out of the closet?
ANONYMOUS: You're wearing tweed in the summer and you're asking ME if I'm a faggot? Xenu please ...
John Carmichael: What?

[magoo1]

Natty P---LOVE your photo of TC with the tin foil hat on

Andreas: Very well said, thank you.

I agree---I'm not for hackers and have stated so, many times.
However, I do think it's important to once again point out it is
Scientology C R E A T I N G
Their own enemies.

One day they shall stop harming others, and that day they shall begin,
once more, to "Win". Until, it's a downhill slide.

My best to all

Tory/Magoo~~

[WhiteTrashMessiah]

I agree with Andreas. I've always thought the route of DDoS attacks and the like were not only rather extreme, but are ultimately doomed to failure.

I also agree that it is rather funny that such a great, powerful bunch of UberMench can't keep their servers up.

Ultimately, how I see it, is that DDoS attacks, when they lay the server low, stop people from seeing the laughable stupidity that C of S tries to dump on people. If one reads the OC library to any degree, then goes to the C of S site, they're armed with the power to see through the bullshit with relative ease.

If it were me, I'd createa C of S spoof/parody site that takes each point the C of S tries to sell and turns it around so that what they are saying turns into what they really mean.
_________________
MAYHEM. MUTINY. ENTURBULATION.

"GMs aren't allowed to tell you but the bridge quest is bugged. Even after you complete all the objectives, it stays on your quest list and you keep losing money. Only way to stop it is to log out and uninstall."

[ron's hat]

[SgtAl]

I dont endorse anyone doing anything illegal even against a dangerous cult like scientology, however they brought this on themselves. You cant go around slapping people with threats of DMCA lawsuits and not get some backlash from the hacker/cracker community. I'm sure that the cult has considered doing this to O.C. and other critical websites, if they havent already done it. I think the "anonymous" goup is applying the same tactics that scientology would use.
It's a double edged sword, I hope it makes the national press just so more people have the chance to look at scientology for what it is.
_________________
“I met L. Ron Hubbard on two occasions, and both times he was drunk.” James Randi

[ron's hat]

[SgtAl]

[ron's hat]

Well said, and, of course, no one should ever encourage anyone else in illegal activities. It is a personal decision and a decision that one should not make lightly. When it comes to subjects like ethics or morality, the shades can so quickly turn to gray that it is indeed difficult to decide what is the correct path.

Talk to a rape victim whose perpetrator was released on parole...or ask a concentration camp victim if it might have been a good idea to kill Hitler in 1939, or talk to someone like me whose life was completely disarranged by their participation in scientology..........maybe it'd be a good idea to get Lisa McPherson's ideas on the current subject...if she was around..........and concepts like 'taking the high road'......or taking 'the high moral ground' suddenly don't seem too important. My view is simply that someone can easily make a case that if you observe evil......then it becomes something of a personal responsibility to confront it head on and deal with it.

[Braveheart's Girlfriend]

"Act only according to that maxim whereby you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law."

Which is exactly what Tom tells Scientologists to do in that tape. It keeps Scientology working. They'd love it to be a universal law to be a Scientologist.

I can see both sides of this, but probably because I was never a Scientologist, I would "err on the side" of disapproving of the hackers too, if that is what has happened/is happening. I'm trying to come up with a different quote than Andreas, one that couldn't be equally applied to the cult, can't think of one offhand..

Of course the CoS should have the right to their own propaganda websites! Free speech is a basic human right.
_________________
BotA!

[the_headcrusher]

Maybe SOME good may come out of this. After re-reading the Project Chanology thread over at 711chan, some people there may actually be good for the critic community. There were quite a few people that were ready to print up anti-scientology fliers to distribute.

I have to give the people at the *chans some credit. While the DDoS may be pushing it, they have made $cientology visible to people that otherwise couldn't give a damn.

Sorry for rambling on, i'm a little loopy from various cold medicines that don't work...hey can OT's cure colds and bronchitis??
_________________
You flathead.

[Max_Power]

There's discussion of the attacks over at core.onion (http://eqt5g4fuenphqinx.onion/view/190). Nothing really new there, just a transcript of the "Anonymous" video and the text of the RFW $5,000 reward page.