Anonymous Launches HackerLeaks: WikiLeaks For Stolen Data

A new website called HackerLeaks, reportedly launched last week by members of hacker-activist collective Anonymous, invites users to submit hacked data for analysis and publication.

Similar to the whistleblower website WikiLeaks, HackerLeaks operatives “receive documents through anonymous submission channel, analyze them, and then distribute them to the press,” Forbes's Andy Greenberg reported on Thursday.

The organization’s official mission statement, available on the HackerLeaks website (here), reads,

“In both security as well as overall strategy, HackerLeaks is closely modeled on WikiLeaks. Our first priority is to provide a safe, secure - and anonymous way for hackers to disclose sensitive information. Our team of analysts first carefully screens each submission for any possible trace of the senders identity. Our second commitment is to ensure that each and every leak receives the maximum exposure possible in order to achieve the most profound political impact for the risks taken by those submitting material. To that end, we work with media outlets all over the world.”

Amidst recent Internet security breaches, independent hackers have been utilizing sites such as Pastebin to release compromised data. HackerLeaks, on the other hand, claims to provide an added incentive, offering “maximum exposure and political impact” as a result of such "leaks".

“We just wanted to make our own offering, compete in the disclosure marketplace and maybe fill a unique role if we can,” says a HackerLeaks representative who spoke to Greenberg over instant message.

As of this writing, there has been one anonymous submission to HackerLeaks –– a leak containing personal information of Orlando officials. Time will tell whether or not more hackers will utilize HackerLeaks in order to publicize the data that they’ve taken.

Anonymous has reportedly launched a "war" against the city of Orlando to voice disapproval over the arrests of non-profit workers who distribute food to the homeless without obtaining permits from the city. The group claimed that it will target "city web assets," and apparently downed the Orlando Florida Guide soon thereafter.

Comments

[iGetcha org]

04:20 PM on 07/14/2011

There's also http://www.libreleaks.org It's more news related to leaks but also provides submittal of leaks. Although, they do recommend using the Tor project for anonymity.

[floodberg]

07:18 PM on 07/03/2011

Without Anonymous and Wikileaks, we'd have no way to find out what our government is so profitably hiding from us.  I'm behind you 100%, and your videos are great.  And I'm the loving the whole Guy Fawkes thing.

Having said that, my guilty pleasure was LulzSec.  The LulzBoat graphic and music made it fun, and I'd laugh like crazy reading their releases about who they'd hacked (thanks for SOCA, guys, it made my day!)  Exposing those who watched online porn at the White House was not only public service but just plain funny. 

Pastebin isn't fun but I visit it a lot more.   Anonymous, if you should happen to out a politician for illegal campaign contributi­ons and rig Queen's "Don't stop me now" when I click the link, you'd make my day.  

Give my best to Ben B when you see him, ok?

[ifyouseekay]

03:15 PM on 07/03/2011

i always find it amusing that those that want to reveal secrets always keep themselves secret.

what's up with that?!

[Dingo Bob]

10:38 AM on 07/04/2011

I like your NAME/MONIKER.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,

[Dnietz]

04:45 AM on 07/03/2011

Since Assange has be been under house arrest, not much has been "leaked" by WikiLeaks.

I hope that it all gets straightened out, but I also believe that our government will do all that it can to not let Assange go, legally valid or not. As we have seen in the past, the British government will do pretty much whatever the US government wants. I think our government actually wants him to stay in British custody to avoid the publicity of him being in our prisons.

It really would have been best if he had avoided getting caught. The work of WikiLeaks has seemingly stopped. We never got those promised releases of bank execs and so on.

That being said, whatever other avenues exist for distributing data is good. There are possibly many people with access to information that should be spread widely, but don't know how to do it. I know if I had something that should be spread all over the world, I wouldn't know how to do it without getting caught.

And nothing stops someone from sending it to these guys, and also WikiLeaks, and also group or person.

[Lex Anton]

01:36 PM on 07/02/2011

I don't know why some people think its the CIA. I mean the gov't is incompetent. These masks annoy me though.

[Shawn Kelloway]

02:54 PM on 07/01/2011

This is a poor, poor choice. Anonymous seems too spread out to attempt such an organizational feat which would centralize a lot of resources. Hacking, by nature, works best when your location remains anonymous.

They would benefit more by partnering with a group like WikiLeaks, which already has a level of credibility. Though, I would never participate with another group unless a thorough white hat hack proved they did indeed have irrefutable credibility. Going it alone raises too many questions of their intentions and could turn public sentiment against them.

I have no problem with Anonymous being the sharp point of a WikiLeak's spear, actually it makes loads of sense. Especially, if it means holding the corrupt accountable However, if their intentions are discovered to be less than honorable, the public will turn on them in a heart beat. This has officially become a PR battle now.

Anyone want to drink the KoolAid now!

[wardropper]

10:15 PM on 07/02/2011

Good sense.
F.
This would be an easy target to discredit - along with, by association, WikiLeaks, if, as you say, they turn out not to be what they say they are.

[keramos]

02:52 AM on 07/01/2011

I like these folks and wish them great success.  This is journalism in the age of no journals.

[Mahi Joe]

02:19 AM on 07/01/2011

How can we be sure this isn't some sting operation concocted by the FBI or CIA?

[Brother Anton]

07:48 PM on 07/01/2011

All this paranoia is making me paranoid about paranoia.

[wardropper]

10:16 PM on 07/02/2011

Just assume that everybody is out to get you, and you'll be fine.

[Mahi Joe]

01:50 PM on 07/03/2011

Just asking a simple question is all.

[The Opinionator]

08:15 PM on 06/30/2011

Caution red leader...

[Wide Stance]

06:28 PM on 06/30/2011

Good to see the Wikileaks tradition growing.

[netzwerg]

05:50 PM on 06/30/2011

That website is a hoax.

[Dnietz]

04:48 AM on 07/03/2011

very possibly true

but then again, by the time you get around sending secret data to someone for distribution, you better have already accepted the fact there is a chance you are going to be caught.

hopefully, anyone with anything valuable to release will send it to multiple sources

[DamOTclese]

05:41 PM on 06/30/2011

Possible theofascist operation run by the CIA.

[keramos]

02:53 AM on 07/01/2011

CIA is more into drug-running and money laundering for the cartels  on Wall St

[wardropper]

10:17 PM on 07/02/2011

CIA will do what it is told to do.

And we don't even know who tells it what to do...

Best to assume the worst, then at least you have a chance to be ready for the worst when it happens - and I reckon it's happening right now.