Hacktivism is a type of activism that uses computer hacking techniques to promote a political or social cause. It is a combination of the words “hack” and “activism,” and has been around since the late 1990s. Hacktivism is often used to disrupt services, such as websites and databases, in order to draw attention to a certain cause.
The most distinct example of hacktivism is the release of information that is confidential or private. This has happened with a variety of different causes, such as the release of the emails of organizations or corporations with the aim of uncovering impropriety or unethical behavior. Anonymous is perhaps the most well-known group of hacktivists, and is responsible for numerous attacks and releases of information in support of free and open access on the internet. Other examples of hacktivism include the defacement of websites and the denial of service attacks on websites.
While hacktivism is often perceived as an illegal action, some consider it to be a form of free speech. Proponents point out that it can be used as a way to draw attention to social and political injustices. Others point out that it has been used to violate the privacy of individuals and groups who are vulnerable or powerless.
Despite its controversial nature, hacktivism is never going away. It will continue to be used to push both positive and negative causes for years to come.
