Changes

The modern collective of Anonymous 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 modern collective of Anonymous 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.  

In it's juvenile days its focus was focused on 'trolling' various websites (the act of purposefully being immature, annoying or offensive to enjoy the reactions of other members of the web). Famous examples include the 'Pools Closed' raids on Habbo Hotel and the mass flooding of YouTube with material banned by it's Terms of Service.

In it's juvenile days its focus was focused on 'trolling' various websites[http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=459214] (the act of purposefully being immature, annoying or offensive to enjoy the reactions of other members of the web). Famous examples include the 'Pools Closed' raids on Habbo Hotel[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=02o5bISvkCI] and the mass flooding of YouTube with material banned by it's Terms of Service.

In 2008, in response to a Tom Cruise video, Anonymous became more homogeneous in it's opposition to the Church of Scientology. 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[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DCHkHZIyrdo], Anonymous became more homogeneous in it's opposition to the Church of Scientology[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCbKv9yiLiQ]. 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 2010 in rose to notoriety due to Anonymous' actions against those who opposed Piracy. Operation Payback was initially about protesting those who wished to control the spread of information on the Internet, and later became involved with the support of Wikileaks and Julian Assange.  

In 2010 it rose to notoriety due to Anonymous' actions against those who opposed Piracy. Operation Payback was initially about protesting those who wished to control the spread of information on the Internet, and later became involved with the support of Wikileaks and Julian Assange.  

== Beliefs ==

== Beliefs ==

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.

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.

However, Anonymous is known for it's support of Freedom of Information, Freedom of Speech, Personal Freedom, Transparency within the Government and Universal Access to Human Rights.

However, Anonymous is known for it's support of Freedom of Information, Freedom of Speech, Personal Freedom, Transparency within the Government and Universal Access to Human Rights.[http://anonyops.com/Whoarewe.htm]

== Operation Chanology ==

== Operation Chanology ==

In 2008, after a video of Tom Cruise talking about Scientology was leaked onto YouTube, Anonymous declared its 'destruction' of the Church of Scientology (CoS). Due to the CoS's belief in suppressing information, suppressing it's members, spreading misinformation and abusing taxation laws to remain tax free.

In 2008, after a video of Tom Cruise talking about Scientology was leaked onto YouTube, Anonymous declared its 'destruction' of the Church of Scientology (CoS). Due to the CoS's belief in suppressing information, suppressing it's members, spreading misinformation and abusing taxation laws to remain tax free.

There was also considerable opposition to the core practise in Scientology of having to hand over a significant fortune to be shown what the Scientology believes, which is strongly opposed by the ideal that 'Knowledge is Free.'  

There was also considerable opposition to the core practise in Scientology of having to hand over a significant fortune[http://altreligion.about.com/od/controversymisconception/a/scientology_cos.htm] to be shown what the Scientology believes, which is strongly opposed by the ideal that 'Knowledge is Free.'  

== Operation Payback ==

== Operation Payback ==

Operation Payback began in 2010 as a counter to those who opposed Internet Piracy. It began in response to Distributed Denial of Service attacks against Torrent websites, with return DDoS attacks against pro-copyright and anti-piracy companies.

Operation Payback began in 2010 as a counter to those who opposed Internet Piracy. It began in response to Distributed Denial of Service attacks against Torrent websites, with return DDoS attacks against pro-copyright and anti-piracy companies.

The attacks received from criticism from the Pirate Party UK and the United States Pirate Party due to their support for a democratic opposition.

The attacks received from criticism from the Pirate Party UK and the United States Pirate Party due to their support for a democratic opposition.[http://news.softpedia.com/news/Pirate-Parties-Ask-Anonymous-to-End-DDoS-Campaign-168050.shtml][http://news.softpedia.com/news/Anonymous-to-Pirate-Parties-We-Won-t-Stop-168306.shtml]

After Wikileaks released the secret Cables many of those who opposed Wikileaks, or retracted their affiliation due to government pressure, became the next targets. The concept of Freedom of Information was supported by Wikileaks so those who opposed the group became targets, but also those who were pressured into retracting by government forces (the US government was blamed significantly for this) opened up a knowledge of a corruption within these governments, due to their intervention in private business.

After Wikileaks released the secret Cables many of those who opposed Wikileaks, or retracted their affiliation[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/wikileaks/8190541/WikiLeaks-cyberwar-on-Visa-and-MasterCard-disrupts-Christmas-shopping-in-Operation-Payback.html] due to government pressure, became the next targets. The concept of Freedom of Information was supported by Wikileaks so those who opposed the group became targets, but also those who were pressured into retracting by government forces (the US government was blamed significantly for this) opened up a knowledge of a corruption within these governments, due to their intervention in private business.

These Operation also spun Operation Avenge Assange, an operation against those who targeted and victimised Julian Assange after the cable leaks.

These Operation also spun Operation Avenge Assange[http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/12/06/anonymous_launches_pro_wikileaks_campaign/], an operation against those who targeted and victimised Julian Assange after the cable leaks.

== Westboro Baptist Church ==

== Westboro Baptist Church ==

On February 16, 2011, the Westboro Baptist Church issued a declaration of war against the group Anonymous. WBC claimed that Anonymous had threatened to start a war with their website and church. Despite this going against both Rule 14 of the Internet (Do not feed the trolls) and the principle belief of Freedom of Speech, a member of Anonymous called Topiary agreed to speak on the David Pakman Show on February 24.  

On February 16, 2011, the Westboro Baptist Church issued a declaration of war against the group Anonymous. WBC claimed that Anonymous had threatened to start a war with their website and church. Despite this going against both Rule 14 of the Internet (Do not feed the trolls) and the principle belief of Freedom of Speech, a member of Anonymous called Topiary agreed to speak on the David Pakman Show on February 24[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZJwSjor4hM].  

On the show Anonymous explained that it initially had no interest in WBC because it considered them unimportant and trolls but after being harassed on the show the group replaced their sites with a message explaining their lack of interest.

On the show Anonymous explained that it initially had no interest in WBC because it considered them unimportant and trolls but after being harassed on the show the group replaced their sites with a message explaining their lack of interest.