This weekend, http://yestofreedom.org was hit by an attack of unprecedented scale, originating from an unknown source. We are not in the position to blame anyone or any organisation, but would like to remind users that someone, whether intentionally or not, is breaking the law to stop us.
Trying to access the website, for several hours, yielded nothing but the depressing message:
Error establishing a database connection.
The entire [MySQL] database was wrecked, and thus was reset. Several tables had to be manually re-implemented in part or whole. Please notice us through a comment to this post or email at contact[at]yestofreedom.org if you encounter any problems or anomalies. Additionally, a “Conditional CAPTCHA” plugin has been installed, which will request that you answer a simple question if your comment is thought to originate from a bot.
This website has been growing fast for the past six months, and now receives an average of over 160 unique visitors daily. More than 45 000 people have visited it since its inception, and about 220 letters were sent through our mailing system only. That is far from being anywhere close to having an impact on worldwide policies, but it is still encouraging data taken into account that Yes to Freedom is barely six months old.
This attack demonstrates that we are beginning to have a certain impact on the web. We will need to be much more careful from now on. We thank you for your support over the last 6 months; of course, we always are in need of all the help that we can get.
Tags: attack, CAPTCHA, spam, statistics, website
It seems ALOT of anime related sites are having trouble these days. Tokyotosho was down this last friday and many others have been having trouble off and on as well. While i do realize this site is for freedom in general it does have origins in anime and thus these may be related. I would also like to add that if i could i would do something to help you but sadly i lack any skills i could see being of use other than say writing letters to representatives in the state of alaska.
We have to do something about these attacks. We should create a brigade of hackers that will trace the attacks back to their place of origin and report that to Interpol or well post it on a /b/ and tell them what’s going on so they’ll do something.
Mikage as i said on sankaku we gotta be careful about the chans they go against the main goals of this group of non violent methods and include what the chans would do as violent.
Actually, I’m not so fond of the idea of involving the chans in this. The attack on Yes to Freedom was of course illegal, but countering with illegal activities would give us a bad name.
@ Sorrior,
Additional writers are always appreciated – as of now, we rely on a very small number of writers, and when these are busy, YtF as a whole is at a near-standstill.
@ Mikage-sama, Nin
Nin is not too far from our opinion on this matter, while Sorrior is quite spot-on. People who suggest aggressive and/or illegal methods have yet to truly understand what this organisation stands for.
A movement which centers around a controversial or “hot” topic will get attacked sometime. Ya gotta be prepared for future attacks as well.
Well it’s all in the past, nothing we con do about it since there is no need to cry over spilled milk. All we need to do is fix it up and go forward even though it’s easier said than done.
It’s sad to see that someone felt the need to break the law in order to attempt to stop this website.
On the other hand, it is somewhat good news that someone felt that this organization was even worth attacking, suggesting that it is indeed gaining influence, so to speak.
I just read your latest news. I’m sorry to hear about your attack and I hope you guys are back on your feet!
We can’t let the “ignorant parties” shut you guys up!
As a lover of everything and anything Japanese — plus I love to draw stuff, I would like to help uphold your noble cause!
In any way I can.
Thank You and keep fighting the good fight!
To Michael and everyone else who expressed their will to help, know that Yes to Freedom constantly lacks members, especially writers and researchers. Spreading the word in any way possible is also highly appreciated.
If you’d be interested in helping out in one of the ways described above – or have an idea for a new project or anything, really; we’re very open to suggestions – please do PM me through the forums or contact me, the_pragmatist or Arokan through our IRC channel. Note that the latter would be preferable, and most likely faster as well.
Goes to show to you that the best “defense” is a good “offense”. You guys haven’t done shit to kick any sort ass, and now they’re taking advantage of it.
This is true grgspunk.The best way to counter them is with feminist that believe in the same things we do and expose the problems of other feminist.Becouse there exists good and bad feminists.
@ grgspunk
(quote) ~
“Goes to show to you that the best “defense” is a good “offense”. – You guys haven’t done shit to kick any sort ass, and now they’re taking advantage of it.”
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Its ~ VERY ~ easy to say, yea, get some weaponry, and fuck’em up, however, what will occur in using any type of offensive aggressive tactic, is exactly what these people want to be handed to them.
MORE REASON to say …
“See this is why we need to stop these deviant people, because they are out here to attack violently, and are spreading the cancer quickly, this is why we need to STOP THEM!! BECAUSE THEY ARE DANGEROUS!! Not ONLY to the general public to our children!!”
I have been saying this over and over (personally)…
This is not the way to do this, there are other methods in order to get our message across, which will appeal to everyone who is willing to join us in what we believe.
Yes, aggressive tactic(s) can be useful, but that is totally dependent on the situation, and this is not one of those situations.
We have been “hit” and by this “hit” ~ we now know that our message is beginning to filter out beyond our expectations, and is hitting home, and that – ‘they” – (whoever they may be) know that we are being serious to the cause in which we believe in.
We can only learn from this “hit” and continue to move further forwards, standing up for what we believe in.
I apologize about the idea to tell /b/. It was a heat of the moment response. Id like to help in anyway I can.
Sorry for posting so late.