InTheCapital

[image via abcnews]

By Carl Pierre / @carlpierre

Those hackers we’ve come to know and love have done it again.

Last night the FBI and the Justice Department started a massive crackdown on the infamous file-sharing site Megaupload, arresting and indicting seven of the executives that run the company. Officials charged the site with flagrantly disobeying copyright laws and protections, and required the site be shutdown indefinitely. 

This did not go over so well with the online community. Once the news of the site’s demise hit the internet, forums were flooded with bloggers and users venting their anger and frustration at Megaupload’s shutdown.

Anonymous, the network of hackers that are infamous for their nefarious attacks on corporations and government sites, decided to launch a series of DDoS (distributed denial of service) attacks on the FBI’s main website as well as the Justice Department’s site rendering a few of them inaccessible for several hours.The group also targeted Universal Music, Motion PIcture Association of America, Recording Industry Association of America, and the U.S. Copyright Office, all of whom they believe played a heavy hand in pushing for a shutdown of Megaupload’s operation. 

The attacks, cleverly named “Operation Donkey Punch” by Anonymous members, is the largest attack ever with 5,635 users helping in the effort. 

I suppose the wounds are still pretty raw from the SOPA protests on Wednesday, and online emotions continue to run high. I’m assuming this is why Anonymous retaliated with such force against different government agencies and copyright-concerned organizations. Buzz on the internet says these attacks are not over yet, so I’m curious to see what organization or group Anonymous puts in it’s crosshairs next.