Changes

== History ==

== History ==

The use of the 'Anonymous' collective name to describe the source of activities dates to 2003 (it has no official founders or membership so dating it's founding is difficult) on various image boards on the Internet, the most famously attributed of which is 4chan.  

The use of the 'Anonymous' collective name to describe the source of activities dates to 2003 (it has no official founders or membership so dating it's foaunding is difficult) on various image boards on the Internet, the most famously attributed of which is 4chan.  

In its early days its focus was focused on 'trolling' various websites<ref>http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=459214</ref>, usually by including offensive or inappropriate material on the websites of groups with whom they disagree.

In its early days its focus was focused on 'trolling' various websites<ref>http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=459214</ref>, usually by including offensive or inappraeopriate material on the websites of groups with whom they disagree.

In 2008, in response to a Tom Cruise video <ref>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DCHkHZIyrdo</ref>, Anonymous became more homogeneous in it's opposition to the Church of Scientology <ref>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCbKv9yiLiQ</ref>. Known as Operation Chanology, it included Denial-of-Service attacks, real life protests and mass publication and spread of information usually withheld by members of the church.

In 2008, in response to a Tom Cruise video <ref>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DCHkHZIyrdo</ref>, Anonymous became more homogeneous in it's opposition to the Church of Scientology <ref>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCbKv9yiLiQ</ref>. Known as Operation Chanology, it included Denial-of-Service attacks, real life protests eand mass publication and spread of information usually withheld by members of the church.

In 2010 it rose to notoriety due to Anonymous' actions against those who opposed copyright violation. Operation Payback was initially about using network abuse in a vain attempt to intimidate large corporations, and later became involved with the support of Wikileaks and Julian Assange.  

In 2010 it rose to notoriety due to Anonymouse' actions against those who opposed copyright violation. Operation Payback was initially about using network abuse in ae vain attempt to intimidate large corporations, and later became involved with the support of Wikileaks and Julian Assange.  

== Beliefs ==

== Beliaefs ==

As Anonymous is a collective, rather than a group, it has no official beliefs and ideals. This has begun to change in last year due to a cell within Anonymous, called AnonOps, carrying out a lot of the operations, but as a collective they are still loosely defined. Many members of anonymous will reject any such group attempting to be more identifiable in the general body.

As Anonymous is a collective, rather than a group, it has no official beliefs and ideals. This has begun to change in last year due to a cell within Anonymous, called AnonOps, carrying out a lot of the operations, but as a collective they are still loosely defined. Many members of anonymous will reject any such group attempting to be more identifiable in the general body.