I know it sounds dumb but... is hacktivism legal?

[ghostheadx2]

For a long time, its been something I've dreamed of doing. My opinions are in favor of their causes, but I have been sure for a long time that its illegal. I also like the idea of being a white hat hacker, but being a hacktivist on the side isn't so white hat... as far as I know.

Then I saw a post of someone on this site, actually a few years younger than me, who wanted to become a hacktivist and asked where to start. No one had told him its illegal, in fact someone posted a link (which I didn't look at but I guessed is how to become a hacker).

Here's where I'm starting to wonder. I was the person to say it was illegal, but... As far as I know this is an ethical hacking site. So then, if this is an ethical hacking site, and no one tells this person its illegal in someone's thread before I do... is it legal? I know its not a bad thing to do, but if there's any legal way of supporting hacktivists I'd like to hear.

Here's the thread that made me wonder before I had to ruin this teenager's dreams and tell him its not legal:

viewtopic.php?f=37&t=12969

[-Ninjex-]

Modifying, damaging, infiltrating, stealing, or manipulating anything without the owner's explicit consent is illegal. This includes Hacktivism. It depends on how you approach the situations and what you are doing, though. More often than not, it's illegal.

[ghostheadx2]

You said "more often than not." WHAT THE FUCK IS THE LESS OFTEN PART!?

[pretentious]

That's the part where the legal system is complicated and you should never take advice involving possible jail time, from the internet

[Jbraithwaite]

The way things are going it's going to be illegal to login to a service over HTTPS.

[ghostheadx2]

@Jbraithewaite,

With the way the courts always rule in favor of the CFAA, I agree. The CFAA needs to be completely overturned. If we just educated people on this stuff it wouldn't be as big of a deal.

[NETWORKsecurity]

You said "more often than not." WHAT THE FUCK IS THE LESS OFTEN PART!?

Hacktivism or hactivism (a portmanteau of hack and activism) is the subversive use of computers and computer networks to promote a political agenda.

--.> doesnt have to be illegal ,black out of site as sign of protest, tweetstorms, making privacy tools,... as always it depends on where you live and as pretentious said never take legal advice from Internet. True,this site doesnt support illegal activities but what members of site do really doesnt matter. This site is source of info, what members do with knowledge is their choice.

Also that link you said you didnt read is only one click away
P.S:look up history of HTS

[tremor77]

Legal is a pretty gray term... now it all depends on what sort of 'hacktivism' you engage in and who supports that 'hacktivism', what your country of origin is, and who are the victims of that hacktivism and their level of power. For example:

Legal hacktivism 'might' be: Attack and doxing of a child pornography ring and turning the evidence over to the proper authorities. Whilst you may potentially be doing something illegal in the process, you're more than likely to get a 'hackers do the right thing' media coverage break.

Illegal hacktivism 'might' be: The same as above but you've implicated a powerful and well connected individual whose lawyers can squash all the evidence and turn the case around on you, claim that you're a devious politically motivated hacker that is spreading libel and slander and they will put you away or have you mysteriously disappeared.

Legal hacktivism 'might' be: Uncovering documents and information about something terrible, that implicate an organization or company that is already considered a bad actor by the state.. media coverage 'hackers help take down bad guys'.

Illegal hacktivism 'might' be: Uncovering documents and information about something terrible that implicates the state or respected organization...


see the pattern? So if you choose a target that your society, your government and law enforcement, and the media could potentially praise an attack on - you 'might' get a free pass.

however if you do the opposite, no matter if you're fighting the good fight, you can best be sure that it will be considered illegal.

[ghostheadx2]

@NETWORKsecurity, I know that HTS was started by famous hacktivist and anon Jeremy Hammond. I'm guessing it was passed down to someone else shortly after. Today though, its pretty white hat as far as I can tell. I also knew already that Jeremy Hammond is spending ten years in prison. He's in the fourth or so of which I believe or about to be.

[NETWORKsecurity]

@NETWORKsecurity, I know that HTS was started by famous hacktivist and anon Jeremy Hammond. I'm guessing it was passed down to someone else shortly after. Today though, its pretty white hat as far as I can tell. I also knew already that Jeremy Hammond is spending ten years in prison. He's in the fourth or so of which I believe or about to be.

HTS was always whitehat. It wasnt HTS that did ProtestWarrior hack, Jeremy did. Same goes for other incidents. Yes HTS seems/is pretty whitehat. Even if most members werent it would still seem whitehat. Reason is that they wouldnt talk about illegal stuff here cause HTS doesnt support illegal activities.

You are right ,that person might have wrong mentality but not because of wish to be a hacktivist but because of asking question that was asked many times before and refusing to search site