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'Anonymous' hacktivists take down child porn sites, reveal members

Anonymous has taken credit for taking down 40 child pornography sites and leaking the names of 1500 members of one of those sites.

Starting last week, Anonymous members were browsing "the Hidden Wiki," a secret 'guidebook' site that indexes hundreds of "underground" pages that are invisible to to search engines and to regular everyday users.



The 1589 pedophiles of a child porn picture sharing site called Lolita City got their info posted to Pastebin.

All of the sites taken down are part of a "darknet," invisible, anonymous and encrypted. Some of the hidden sites in the TOR-based darknet include ways to get fake IDs, steroids or even hire assassins.

To access the site you must have a TOR browser plug-in installed.

Anonymous says they found a site called "Hard Candy" initially, which promised links to child pornography. All of the sites linked were hosted at Freedom Hosting. The group issued a warning to the host to take down the links immediately, which they refused to do. The group then took down the server. It was back up the next day but Anonymous took it down, once again.

Wrote Anonymous:

The owners and operators at Freedom Hosting are openly supporting child pornography and enabling pedophiles to view innocent children, fueling their issues and putting children at risk of abduction, molestation, rape and death. For this, Freedom Hosting has been declared #OpDarknet Enemy Number One. By taking down Freedom Hosting, we are eliminating 40 child pornography websites, among these is Lolita City, one of the largest child pornography websites to date containing more than 100 GB of child pornography. We will continue to not only crash Freedom Hosting's server, but any other server we find to contain, promote, or support child pornography.

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 24 Oct 2011 12:18

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• 36 comments

• DVDBack23

  Think what you want of Anon's other hacks, but bravo for this.
  

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  24.10.2011 12:20 #1

• HxCMANIAC

  This doesn't sound like anonymous...
  

  24.10.2011 12:41 #2

• buxtahuda

  Originally posted by HxCMANIAC: This doesn't sound like anonymous... It does when you consider it's a.) random people and b.) anyone can use the name. No telling, but somehow whoever did it will be considered a criminal and get taken down, while the sites go back up and some money flows into some political pockets.
  

  ~*Livin' Electronicallly*~

  24.10.2011 12:55 #3

• DVDBack23

  Originally posted by buxtahuda: Originally posted by HxCMANIAC: This doesn't sound like anonymous... It does when you consider it's a.) random people and b.) anyone can use the name. No telling, but somehow whoever did it will be considered a criminal and get taken down, while the sites go back up and some money flows into some political pockets. Are you implying that politicians back child pornography? Cause seriously now..
  

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  24.10.2011 13:15 #4

• ddp

  some politicians, yes.
  

  24.10.2011 13:27 #5

• DVDBack23

  I understand people's arguments for politicians getting kickbacks for deals with media companies, phone carriers, tobacco companies etc, and for the most part I believe that to be certainly true, but to say that politicians are willing to risk their lives and careers for a minor kickback on child porn sites? Ridiculous statements without merit.
  

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  24.10.2011 13:36 #6

• ddp

  it has happened before as there was a case of that in the kingston area of ontario, canada.
  

  24.10.2011 13:41 #7

• ruff469

  Originally posted by DVDBack23: I understand people's arguments for politicians getting kickbacks for deals with media companies, phone carriers, tobacco companies etc, and for the most part I believe that to be certainly true, but to say that politicians are willing to risk their lives and careers for a minor kickback on child porn sites? Ridiculous statements without merit. I'm hoping you are commenting out of jest and are not so naive as to believe that some of the higher powers are not backing this kind of activity. No you can't stop all individuals from doing things like this but you can't say that the human politicians that are so called elected by us have yours or my best intention in mind. In fact it makes more sense to say that they have the criminals best intentions in mind because they are the ones with the money. We the masses feed the politicians through our vices. Without us, the Cig co's and porn's co's have no power.
  

  24.10.2011 14:33 #8

• Interestx

  My 2 pennies.....
  
  So long as it doesn't screw up arresting, charging & convicting these scumbags then I am all for this.
  Usually the money trail (credit cards etc) indicates the guilty once they get this far.
  
  (they have broken big child porn rings like this before, although not this way obviously, that we know of anyway)
  
  ......but if they have done anything which means these guys can't be arrested, charged & sent to trial & they get off scott-free then they've made a terrible mistake & are really little better than the scumabgs supplying the demand for this awful stuff.
  

  24.10.2011 14:52 #9

• ruff469

  Originally posted by Interestx: My 2 pennies.....
  
  So long as it doesn't screw up arresting, charging & convicting these scumbags then I am all for this.
  Usually the money trail (credit cards etc) indicates the guilty once they get this far.
  
  (they have broken big child porn rings like this before, although not this way obviously, that we know of anyway)
  
  ......but if they have done anything which means these guys can't be arrested, charged & sent to trial & they get off scott-free then they've made a terrible mistake & are really little better than the scumabgs supplying the demand for this awful stuff. I agree especially since they have publicized where you can get this type of info to the would be future pervs. The pervs may lay low for a minute but all this did was drive traffic into a certain area. Only the idiots will get busted at this point.
  

  24.10.2011 15:07 #10

• Jlhfit

  Hey atleast someone is tryn to do something.. Too bad Governments could care less though... Maybe now youll see someone of "legal" authority step in just to save face..
  

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  24.10.2011 15:25 #11

• DVDBack23

  Originally posted by ruff469: I'm hoping you are commenting out of jest and are not so naive as to believe that some of the higher powers are not backing this kind of activity. No you can't stop all individuals from doing things like this but you can't say that the human politicians that are so called elected by us have yours or my best intention in mind. In fact it makes more sense to say that they have the criminals best intentions in mind because they are the ones with the money. We the masses feed the politicians through our vices. Without us, the Cig co's and porn's co's have no power. Not in jest and not naive. I never said politicians have our best intentions in mind, so not sure where you saw that. What I am saying is if you get caught for kickbacks from lobbyists, etc, you maybe lose your position, maybe pay a fine. If you are high enough up, maybe there is a media scandal. However, you can certainly work again. Hell, you can probably write a book. You get caught with child porn or backing child porn, you never work anywhere (legally) again, ever. You also get to have a dot on a map that everyone can check for their own protection. These political "criminals" (unless they are actually pedophiles, whole different story) know that is not worth it when there is so much money to be made elsewhere.
  

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  24.10.2011 15:43 #12

• 3MUK

  People are just sick these days, seriously child porn ? what has happened to humanity? My opinion is that people that run the site or visit it are just sickos or have mental issues.
  

  Always remember youre unique, just like everyone else.

  24.10.2011 15:51 #13

• ruff469

  Originally posted by DVDBack23: Originally posted by ruff469: I'm hoping you are commenting out of jest and are not so naive as to believe that some of the higher powers are not backing this kind of activity. No you can't stop all individuals from doing things like this but you can't say that the human politicians that are so called elected by us have yours or my best intention in mind. In fact it makes more sense to say that they have the criminals best intentions in mind because they are the ones with the money. We the masses feed the politicians through our vices. Without us, the Cig co's and porn's co's have no power. Not in jest and not naive. I never said politicians have our best intentions in mind, so not sure where you saw that. What I am saying is if you get caught for kickbacks from lobbyists, etc, you maybe lose your position, maybe pay a fine. If you are high enough up, maybe there is a media scandal. However, you can certainly work again. Hell, you can probably write a book. You get caught with child porn or backing child porn, you never work anywhere (legally) again, ever. You also get to have a dot on a map that everyone can check for their own protection. These political "criminals" (unless they are actually pedophiles, whole different story) know that is not worth it when there is so much money to be made elsewhere. I understand now. You are correct at that. But there will be that one fool that gets busted. lol
  
  

  24.10.2011 15:54 #14

• xnonsuchx

  It's nice when hackers actually do something good/useful.

  24.10.2011 15:58 #15

• buxtahuda

  Originally posted by DVDBack23: I understand people's arguments for politicians getting kickbacks for deals with media companies, phone carriers, tobacco companies etc, and for the most part I believe that to be certainly true, but to say that politicians are willing to risk their lives and careers for a minor kickback on child porn sites? Ridiculous statements without merit. Is this a US site then? Are the creators and maintainers local citizens who are bound to our laws and systems? I'm not going to look into it all that far, but I'll guess not. There is such a thing as a globe, and all those strangely shaped imaginary boundaries have politicians within them willing to do varying degrees of sleeze for differing reasons and amounts of money.
  
  It seems as though you've never heard of Thailand? Indonesia? Russia? There are plenty of politicians everywhere willing to do whatever makes them their almighty dollar or tickles their sickest fancies. I'm just saying, if everyone, if every politician, wanted the stuff gone, it would be; rather than just not easily found with Google or MSN. Anything like this that's able to exist for any amount of time has some kind of power backing it.

  24.10.2011 16:29 #16

• ntense69

  I say take them all down in force

  24.10.2011 17:42 #17

• Mysttic

  It's still not confirmed whether or not Anonymous was responsible or just stating they were. On both counts I could see it. With all the bad rep they got from Sony attacks I could see them wanting to win public support for attacking child porn sites. However, why now? Why not have done it on regular domains and wait for them to move to hidden? Seems like an excuse to so righteousness. I not stating that it isn't good they done it, it's not like the law can get these a-holes to jail and even if they do their sentences usually lean so light they get right back to it in 5-10 years. Also as far as taking down sites go, you take 1 down 10 more come back up.

  24.10.2011 17:44 #18

• Azuran

  This shouldn't be a surprise to anyone. Anonymous has taken action against sexual predators before. Google Chris Forcand.
  

  24.10.2011 17:59 #19

• wiseguy0

  I think it's a little good p.r. move for the group, but I'm all for using your powers for good instead of evil.

  24.10.2011 18:29 #20

• Ben54612 (unverified)

  You Rock, Anon!

  24.10.2011 19:13 #21

• getanacct

  Porn between consenting adults is one thing (and is their business), but child porn is disgusting!!
  
  You go, Anonymous!!!

  24.10.2011 19:20 #22

• Mysttic

  Whats even more disturbing is I have 2 kids and I have to worry about when they plan to have sex... It seems with each passing generation it starting younger, even before high-school starts. I hope my heart can take the shock when it happens, I may be lucky and my kids respect their bodies until at least high school, but who the hell knows...

  24.10.2011 22:35 #23

• KillerBug

  This sounds like the Anonymous I know...always trying to protect the innocent.
  

  
  

  24.10.2011 22:40 #24

• Me (unverified)

  Originally posted by Mysttic: With all the bad rep they got from Sony attacks I could see them wanting to win public support for attacking child porn sites. However, why now?
  First, they did it before. They busted a bastard, because they could use the help of the police in that case. Maybe now they couldnt use legal power to take down the servers. Did you also ask then "why now?"?
  Second, what bad rep?! Sony had it coming.

  25.10.2011 04:19 #25

• KillerBug

  Going after criminals...no wonder politicians hate them!
  

  
  

  25.10.2011 05:41 #26

• xtago

  All pointless after the sony attacks no one will be interested in what they do.
  
  I see all that sony data is now being used to get money and stuff from people's accounts.
  
  Now going after these sites will screw up any police chasing these people down now as the sites will drop and everyone will scatter real fast.
  
  These people are stupid as it only seems to be another DDoS attack, that does nothing more than stop packets going to the server so lets everyone get away without any problems.
  
  Though these servers are probably in countries that don't stop these sites anyway so who are you going to stop or even get arrested anyway.
  
  again all pointless endeavors that don't do anything overall.

  25.10.2011 08:08 #27

• xtago

  Originally posted by Me: Originally posted by Mysttic: With all the bad rep they got from Sony attacks I could see them wanting to win public support for attacking child porn sites. However, why now?
  First, they did it before. They busted a bastard, because they could use the help of the police in that case. Maybe now they couldnt use legal power to take down the servers. Did you also ask then "why now?"?
  Second, what bad rep?! Sony had it coming. It's done nothing but get them shifted to else where to which all the cops will have to get onto again.
  
  be even harder to get on as everyone will be spooked.

  25.10.2011 08:09 #28

• LordRuss

  Originally posted by DVDBack23: ...but to say that politicians are willing to risk their lives and careers for a minor kickback on child porn sites? Ridiculous statements without merit. I can say unequivocally that indeed if not the immediate politician, those in his court, have become polluted with the power of his or her officiating power to 'think' they are untouchable or above the very laws they help to put on the book governing everyone else in the states of our /your nations.
  
  The most formidable example of this today would be Dick Morris of the Clinton administration. His acknowledgment of it then & his repeated attempts to "still" behave that way now are ever present to this day.
  
  No, he may not be a pedophile, but the illicit & elitist behavior of what once was is still ever present and his acknowledgement that the people we elected into office have skeletons in the closet that pale his like a black hole. So yeah, I say these people possibly have dirt on the politicians or there are some politicians dirty in this. No two ways about it. Facts can be 'much' stranger than fiction.
  

  http://onlyinrussellsworld.blogspot.com

  25.10.2011 12:49 #29

• SoulGLOW

  Hey Anonymous! PM the details of any and all electronic signatures of these people who log into this and I'll take care of the problem permanently. These aren't "people", let alone "sick" or "mentally damaged"....they are just a virus and should be destroyed as such...without quarter or mercy. And any who have been involved directly with the harm of children should be tortured continuously until their victims are grown and then let the victims do with them as they see fit. That's justice.

  28.10.2011 05:12 #30

• KillerBug

  Originally posted by SoulGLOW: Hey Anonymous! PM the details of any and all electronic signatures of these people who log into this and I'll take care of the problem permanently. These aren't "people", let alone "sick" or "mentally damaged"....they are just a virus and should be destroyed as such...without quarter or mercy. And any who have been involved directly with the harm of children should be tortured continuously until their victims are grown and then let the victims do with them as they see fit. That's justice. If this is a virus then the people are sick...perhaps they cannot be cured, but they are still just sick. They were created by society, and society should seek to protect their potential victims, not simply to punish those whom they have created.
  
  BTW...These sickos are at all levels of society, even the government, and the government does support child porn...they even hire people to feel up little kids in airports before putting them through naked body scanners that save all the images (in uncensored form). They say it is for security...yeah...because I am sure little Suzie, 8 years old, is going to try and hijack a plane.
  

  
  

  29.10.2011 01:18 #31

• xboxdvl2

  Originally posted by KillerBug:
  BTW...These sickos are at all levels of society, even the government, and the government does support child porn...they even hire people to feel up little kids in airports before putting them through naked body scanners that save all the images (in uncensored form). They say it is for security...yeah...because I am sure little Suzie, 8 years old, is going to try and hijack a plane. i was reading somewhere a few months ago a 9yo got caught at an american airport with a bomb.might of just been a rumour
  

  R.I.P. mr 1990 ford falcon.got myself a 1993 toyota corolla seems to run good.computers still going good.

  29.10.2011 08:14 #32

• DXR88

  Originally posted by xboxdvl2: Originally posted by KillerBug:
  BTW...These sickos are at all levels of society, even the government, and the government does support child porn...they even hire people to feel up little kids in airports before putting them through naked body scanners that save all the images (in uncensored form). They say it is for security...yeah...because I am sure little Suzie, 8 years old, is going to try and hijack a plane. i was reading somewhere a few months ago a 9yo got caught at an american airport with a bomb.might of just been a rumour i Remember my first flight in 95 there were 3 Armed Men, air Marshals i think they were called. then they got axed by a bill that lets the airlines choose there own security measures or some shit like that. if we had Air marshals on 9/11 the only thing that would have happen would be dead terrorist that never made it to there destination.
  
  Full body scanners are useless, Pat downs are useless. put a Security Detail back on every flight. i feel safe knowing there's a man on the plane with a MP5 ready for some action.
  

  Powered By
  
  

  29.10.2011 13:21 #33

• casurratt

  Originally posted by DVDBack23: Originally posted by buxtahuda: Originally posted by HxCMANIAC: This doesn't sound like anonymous... It does when you consider it's a.) random people and b.) anyone can use the name. No telling, but somehow whoever did it will be considered a criminal and get taken down, while the sites go back up and some money flows into some political pockets. Are you implying that politicians back child pornography? Cause seriously now.. Do you seriously believe that any politician is truthfully credible? It's all money money money. Why didn't the host drop the site? MONEY.
  

  1.11.2011 15:25 #34

• carryone

  Can the police arrest the people exposed by Anonymous? Or will these people be not go into trial due to technicalities?
  
  I mean, getting information illegally is not permissible in court, right?

  2.11.2011 08:04 #35

• LordRuss

  Originally posted by carryone: Can the police arrest the people exposed by Anonymous? Or will these people be not go into trial due to technicalities?
  
  I mean, getting information illegally is not permissible in court, right? The information garnered illegally can't be used for the sole purpose of the arrest, but they can use it in a form of "reasonable suspicion" & that will give them more than enough reason to go up their asses with a microscope. It's like getting information from a street punk or informant.
  

  http://onlyinrussellsworld.blogspot.com

  3.11.2011 11:44 #36