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A shadowy internet group has succeeded in taking down a Scientology website after effectively declaring war on the Church and calling for it to be destroyed.
The group, which goes by the name of Anonymous, is a disparate collection of hackers and activists. It called for a wave of attacks against Scientology after accusing the Church of "campaigns of misinformation" and "suppression of dissent." At least one Scientology website was still down this morning.
The group also claims to have stolen a number of "secret documents" from the Church's database, which it says are now circulating on file-sharing networks.
A spokesman for the Church of Scientology, which appears to have resurrected some sites, was quoted as saying that the Church was not the "right target" for such attacks. "These types of people have got some wrong information about us," the spokesman said.
Anonymous, which has spearheaded attacks against other websites in the past, called on its members to rise up against the Church after a video of Tom Cruise - one of the most high-profile Scientologists - leaked on the internet last week.
The video, in which the Hollywood actor was seen extolling the virtues of Scientology, was reportedly taken down from some sites after the Church claimed that it violated copyright.
In response, the group - which calls itself an "internet hate machine" - set up a website to co-ordinate a string of attacks using phone, internet and fax methods, which it called 'Project Chanology'.
The website asked members to bombard the Church's website with hits so that it would collapse - a technique known as a 'denial of service' attack, as well as exploit to vulnerabilities in the site using sophisticated hacking techniques.
Anonymous also encouraged members to harass the Church with phone calls, send so-called 'black faxes' to use up ink, and use a method called 'Google bombing', where the word 'Scientology' is linked to other terms such as 'dangerous' and 'cult' so that people entering the search term 'scientology' get skewed results.
In a video posted on YouTube, which has now been watched more than 600,000 tiomes, the group says: "With the leakage of your latest propaganda video into mainstream circulation, the extent of your malign influence over those who have come to trust you as leaders has been made clear to us.
"Anonymous has therefore decided that your organisation should be destroyed, for the good of your followers, for the good of mankind, and for our own enjoyment.
"We are Anonymous. We are Legion. We do not forgive. We do not forget. Expect us."
Security experts monitoring the attacks said that the Church's servers were not likely to suffer for more than a couple of days, and that the attacks were "amateur by hacking standards."
"It's a bit like the internet equivalent of kicking in a phone box," one said. "It's not that professional. In the forums where they're discussing it, some are wondering whether it will be possible to trace what they're doing."
The Church of Scientology, which is known for being litigious, has always vigorously defended itself in the wake of attack, and points to the free choice of adults who join, as well as its efforts to help people with criminal records.
A spokesman was not immediately available for comment.
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You guys get that this is the average Joes of our nation?
This article makes Anonymous sound all organised, we're not. We're just everyone.
Doing something for the crack of it.
Rei Ayanami, Newcastle, England
“If you want to make a little money, write a book. If you want to make a lot of money, create a religion.” - L. Ron Hubbard (founder and writer of the sci fi novel that founded this "religion")
This quote sums everything up really, they aren't here to help, they just want money and power.
Joe, Essex, uk
I think people should get all the facts before joining "an internet HATE group" anonymous sounds like the tyrant to me... why Hate? what are they trying to promote?
I am very wary of any group that promotes unforgiving revengful behaviour, sure everyone is entilteled to an opinion, but to spread hate and fear is of no use in times when we should be uniting and helping eachother.
We are one earth family, with many different views and religions, but a fear based hate-campaign is what starts wars,as history has shown us so many times before, those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.
Why not have a life-afferiming, love-based opposition to scientology? is it because Anonymous has not a leg to stand on, so must take the defensive and altogether offensive stance against a movement that teaches individiual empowerment, and aiding of the less fortunate?
I am not a Scientologist, but the actions of anonymous have made me side with scientologists.
A. Shonde, London, England
to the people who think that scientology is harmless: google "Lisa McPherson"
Iain, Surrey, UK
man the harpoons!
mick, leeds,
Some Anonymous may choose DoS attacks others believe this is mis-guided. This is the start of the anonymous CoSPlan, a plan to educate and inoculate against the threat of scientology. This is going to be a long campaign. In this campaign anonymous have one aim but many approaches. Other anonymous and unassociated groups are planning peaceful protests on the 10th February at assorted Co$ sites around the world. Scientology will be put under the microscope. As anonymous says, "we are anonymous, we are legion, we do not forget, we do not forgive, expect us". Become anonymous.
Tom , Exeter, UK
One must wonder why, if scientology is a real religion, they are so fervent about protecting the word they are trying to spread. Most real religions will offer up their beliefs to anyone that will listen in the hopes that those people will convert.
That this group is openly hostile to the distribution of its recruiting material is suspicious, at best. One must ask, what do they have to hide?
Steven OReilly, Mystic, GA
As has been said before if you seek answers don't look to religion use Google. Religion isn't entirely evil, without it we wouldn't have Christmas Pudding. Christmas cake is evil however.
MM, Sydney,
I don't have any inkling that there is even a morsel of truth in Scientologist beliefs, but this iVandalism is disgusting. What are these amateurs so afraid of that they have to go to these lengths? Simple answer is they're bored and need something to do. Who's next?
The best way to undermine a point of view is to discredit it, not silence it.
gaz, cambridge, uk
It is nice to see Haxxors doing something positive for the web . More of the same please .
Benzo, Nr Chelmsford,
Anyone wanting information about Scientology's dubious activities should watch the excellent but utterly disturbing BBC Panorama documentary about this so-called 'church' <shudder>.
Angela W., Cambridge, UK
I must confess that i am elated that this is happening. Scientology is a cult, whatever they say, and it takes over people's lives. It is simply a money making ploy.
James, Birmingham, UK
What a great bunch of guys. Finally, somebody who knows right from wrong. I can't wait to see what the "pandetermanist" scientologists do. I certainly hope they "keep their ethics in".
Scientology is an embarrassment to the Western World.
Carl Cranas, Dinglehopper, Iowa
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