Anonymous Analysis

Josh Corman (cognitivedissidents.com) and Brian Martin (attrition.org) are putting together some very pointed and well researched analysis of Anonymous, including history and fact/fiction dissection here. Some high level takeaways include their call for transparency while remaining a closed anonymous movement (or idea), the high amount of collateral damage on persons affected by their PII being released in attempts to teach corporations security lessons while the movement is supposedly for the "people" to begin with, and calls to potentially label anonymous a terrorist organization would likely lead to a cyber version of the patriot act. All good stuff, and perhaps the most poignant quote nestled in the analysis:

"When threatened ... powerful, uninformed people make powerfully uninformed decisions"

A day of rest

SOPA. NDAA (Don't worry, we won't actually USE the power given to us to indefinitely detain US citizens on US soil outside of our judiciary system, but we want the option <- hello Patriot Act being primarily used in Drug busts). China. Iran. France is the most active espionage nation state. National economies being decimated by theft of innovations. OWS not targetting the right players and utilizing their now diminished strength poorly. Anonymous/LulzSec executing against equally wrong targets and fueling much of the current pending Internet restriction and privacy violations (hint - target the people who actually care about their public images e.g. politicians/lobbyists and THEIR money trails, not the ones who know they most likely profit even greater during times of active dissent against them). CxOs still viewing security in terms of economic loss thereby taking greater business risks even in the face of what surely is the highest impact year to date for business loss due to CHEW (Criminal, Hacktivism, Espionage and War <- thank you Richard A. Clarke). And so forth.

This past year was an exciting ride, and is going to get crazier in 2012. Having said all that I need a break, even if it is just a day. It is the day before Christmas. I have tremendous respect for faith. Mine may not take the form of the traditional usual suspects, but provided your faith isn't being forced upon others, I have the utmost respect and will abide by that rule myself. So I will relax in front of a roaring fire in the fireplace with my family and appreciate not only them but my personal and workplace friends, industry associates from whom a learn from on a daily basis, the hacking community who, as ironic as it sounds, makes great, if sometimes unintentional steps in securing our assets further, and all of the actors in the previous paragraph for making life as exciting as they humanly can.

Just don't forget about that human part. Cheers to all.