Hacktivist group suspected of threat to ‘kill’ Facebook

REGULAR users of Facebook are awaiting confirmation from “hackivist” group Anonymous that it is actually behind a threat to “kill” the social network site on November 5.

The warning, purporting to be from the group of hackers, spread rapidly around the internet yesterday. Those behind it cited Facebook users’ lack of privacy options as its reason for the attack.

However, whether or not Anonymous is behind the threat was under question last night.

Anonymous has claimed participation in just about every recent notable hacking of year and broke into 70 law enforcement websites and took down the Syrian Ministry of Defence website this week alone.

Anonymous plans to create its own social network, called AnonPlus, without “fear… of censorship”.

In a statement Anonymous — or whoever is behind the threat to Facebook said: “Facebook has been selling information to government agencies and giving clandestine access to information security firms so that they can spy on people from all around the world. Some of these so-called whitehat infosec firms are working for authoritarian governments, such as those of Egypt and Syria... Everything you do on Facebook stays on Facebook regardless of your “privacy” settings.

“The riots are under way. It is not a battle over the future of privacy and publicity. It is a battle for choice and informed consent.

“Think for a while and prepare for a day that will go down in history. November 5, 2011.

“This is our world now. We exist without nationality, without religious bias. We have the right to not be surveilled, not be stalked, and not be used for profit. We have the right to not live as slaves.

“We are anonymous. We are legion We do not forgive We do not forget Expect us.”

Facebook has not issued an official response.