Hacktivism, or internet activism, has become more and more common in recent years. Various hacktivism groups have sprung up and their ability to cause disruption is undeniable. Some have even become quite famous, particularly when they associate with high-profile campaigns.

Hacktivism isn't always illegal. But hacktivists routinely commit cyber crimes against both businesses and private individuals. So, if you have any kind of online presence, it's an important threat to understand.

So what exactly is hacktivism and what do hacktivists actually want?

What Is Hacktivism?

The term hacktivism derives from the terms hacking and activism. Roughly, it means the misuse of technology for social or political purposes.

Hacktivists are often computer experts. And they often use hacking techniques. But the term can also describe an activist without tech skills such as a whistleblower or an anonymous blogger.

The damage inflicted by hacktivist activities also varies widely. It can be as innocent as promoting free speech on social media. Or it can involve cyberattacks that take entire organizations offline.

Hacktivism vs. Hacking

Hacker with face half covered by a mask

Both terms can apply to the same activities. The most important difference between the two is what the actor is aiming to achieve.

Hackers aren't defined by their motivation. A hacker may break into a computer for financial gain or because they want to prove their abilities.

A hacktivist is somebody who is attempting to achieve a social or political outcome. They may break into a computer network and may even steal confidential files. But in that event, a hacktivist would typically publish those files online rather than selling them.

Legally, there isn't always a difference. Hacktivists routinely commit cybercrimes. The motivation of the actor has very little effect on potential penalties.

What Do Hacktivists Hope to Achieve?

People carry out acts of hacktivism for a variety of different reasons. But they usually focus on issues relating to human rights, free speech, and freedom of information.

The goal of individual attacks isn't always easy to understand. For example, a hacktivist may attempt to take a website offline to prove a point, discredit an organization, or simply take revenge.

Which People Do Hacktivists Target?

Hacktivists target both organizations and private individuals. Attackers usually choose victims because they represent values or viewpoints they disagree with.

Hacktivism is often carried out in response to behavior that the hacktivists consider immoral. This can be anything from an individual saying the wrong thing to an organization engaging in corruption and/or human rights abuses.

Why Is Hacktivism a Problem?

Hacktivists, by definition, have good intentions. The question of what techniques are appropriate, however, is debatable. This is something that the public, and even hacktivists themselves, disagree upon.

Anonymous blogging is an important part of free speech. Data leaks, while themselves illegal, often document the illegal activities of others. Hacktivism is often carried out in the hope that it acts as a deterrent to others doing wrong.

Critics of hacktivism, however, highlight the fact that hacktivist activities are often illegal. Targets are often chosen before hacktivists have necessarily proven any wrongdoing. Hacktivists are also known for causing significant financial damages to their victims.

Some hacktivists also fail to see the irony in what they do. Hacktivism is typically performed in the name of free speech. But victims are often chosen because they've said things that a hacktivist disagrees with.

Types of Hacktivism

Hooded figure on a laptop

Hacktivism is a broad term and it includes a wide range of different activities.

Anonymous Blogging

Hacktivism is often carried out to change public opinion. Anonymous blogging allows people to achieve this goal without facing reprisals. Cybercriminals use anonymous blogging to explain their attacks. But it is also used by whistleblowers and opinionated bloggers in countries without free speech.

Website Defacement

Hacktivists will often deface websites to get their point across. This might prevent a website from functioning properly. It could also consist of a message that embarrasses or discredits an organization. These attacks are effective because they are often picked up by the media.

Website Mirroring

Website mirroring is the process of replicating an entire website and putting it online using a different URL. It is primarily used by hacktivists to avoid geo-restrictions. This allows people to visit restricted websites in countries that heavily censor internet access.

Doxxing

Doxxing is the act of discovering a person's identity and publishing that identity online. It is an important tool for hacktivism, allowing hacktivists to punish people who would otherwise stay anonymous.

Leaking Information

Hacktivists often hack private computer systems and publish what they find online. The information they steal is often sensitive and they reveal it to cause embarrassment or discredit the victim. These attacks are often performed at the risk of significant prison terms.

DDoS Attacks

DDoS stands for distributed denial-of-service. DDoS attacks take websites offline or otherwise disrupt normal web traffic. They achieve this by sending so many visitors to a website that the server becomes overwhelmed. DDoS attacks are popular with hacktivists because they can harm big organizations with minimal effort.

Most Notable Hacktivist Organizations

hacker phishing security

Many hacktivists operate independently but there are also various notable hacktivist organizations. The most notable include:

Anonymous

Anonymous is arguably the most well-known hacktivist organization. Individual members are rarely identified but authorities have still arrested many. They typically target large organizations and have performed successful attacks against various politicians. These include very high-profile figures such as Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump.

Wikileaks

Wikileaks is a non-profit media organization created by Julian Assange. But it's also a hacktivist organization that's responsible for some of the most important data leaks in recent history. They have published classified information about the Afghanistan war. They also released thousands of emails related to the 2016 US presidential election.

Is Hacktivism Always Going to Happen?

Hacktivism is an ongoing threat that's unlikely to ever stop. Technology is constantly used to hide information and suppress free speech. Provided this is happening, there will be people attempting to use technology to achieve the opposite.

Individual hacktivists are often arrested. But any prosecution of a person or group is usually met with others immediately taking their place.