According to Fowler, the claims correct: “Anonymous has proven to be a capable group, having penetrated some worthy targets in Russia.” Anonymous hacked, for example, the Russian communications watchdog Roskomnadzor and the intelligence service FSB. Moscow.ru, the Government Analytical Center and the Ministry of Sports also received unwanted digital visitors.
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In addition, a number of important databases had to work. Just think of databases of internet providers and government websites. “Anonymous deleted key files, leaving folders with the slogan ‘Putin, stop this war’ and similar messages,” Fowler said. Another database with 270,000 names and e-mail addresses was then made public.
The claim by @YourAnonNews, the Twitter channel of Anonymous, that it would have hacked Russian television channels, is also true, according to Fowler. “My partner at Security Discovery, Bob Diachenko, filmed one such hacked video feed.” The video feed was replaced with a pro-Ukrainian video in Russian. “Many of the hacked agencies and companies also openly admit that they have been attacked.”
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Despite the cheering reactions on social media, Anonymous’ actions remain criminal. After all, they do it without government permission. “They’re almost like a cyber-Robin Hood when it comes to things that people really care about, that no one else can really do anything about,” Fowler told CNBC. “You want action now, you want justice now, and I think groups like Anonymous give people that satisfaction.”