Hacktivism

April 28, 2017

“Our goal is to promote transparency within the Mormon Church,” said Ryan McKnight, creator of MormonLeaks, a website where users post information anonymously about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Above, a line of people wait outside the Provo City Center Temple. — George Frey/Getty Images

Ryan McKnight believed his church needed greater transparency.

Tech

Alexandra Elbakyan's Sci-Hub is 'hacktivism on a grand scale'

By Ben Johnson

April 28, 2017

Should we be able to access academic articles without paywalls?

Tech

How hacktivism intersects with the law

April 28, 2017

A demonstrator, and supporter of the group Anonymous, rests during a protest against corrupt governments and corporations in front of the White House in Washington, D.C. — SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images

Activists are using technology, sometimes illegally, to promote social and political change. What kind of legal backlash do they face?

Tech

Founder of hacker group LulzSec explains the chaos of hacktivism

April 28, 2017

“When you're using hacking to disrupt a government without an understanding of all the consequences, that's when I start to feel like there's a lot more chaos than sense,” said Hector Monsegur, founder of the hacker group LulzSec and a director at Rhino Security. — Patrick Lux/Getty Images

“Did I help the cause or did I hurt the cause?” asks Hector Monsegur, otherwise known by his hacker handle Sabu.

Tech

Is ‘hacktivism’ a force for good … or chaos?

April 28, 2017

“I am a proudly a hacker, and I get very irritated when hacker is used as a pejorative or to mean criminal activity, because I think hackerism represents our best,” Chester Wisniewski says. — KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV/AFP/Getty Images

Hackers are 'the best parts of science and information sharing,' research scientist Chester Wisniewski told us. It's part of our special series.