Human rights organisation Avaaz is asking for donations to help protect it against a “massive” persistent cyber attack, which it believes a government or large corporation is behind.
Avaaz has been campaigning over a number of high-profile issues, launching a petition calling on companies such as Facebook and Microsoft to ditch support for the US Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act (CISPA), while it has also been pushing to “stop Rupert Murdoch”.
“We have urgent campaigns on oceans, forests and Syria we need to run, but the attack has been going on for 36 hours straight, threatening our ability to keep campaigning. Because of top-notch security, our site is still up, but it’s not enough.
“We need to show these actors that when they attack Avaaz, they’re messing with people. And people-power can’t be intimidated or silenced, it only grows stronger.”
The same web page includes a donation tool, which will go to taking Avaaz’s security “to the next level”, to show the attackers “that whatever they throw at us only makes us stronger.”
Sarah Brown, the wife of former Prime Minister Gordon Brown, has offered her support for Avaaz. “Right now @Avaaz site under attack, powerful interests trying to take it down. Donate now to secure the site,” Brown said.
This year has so far been another significant one in terms of cyber attacks ostensibly involving nation states. Iran said this week it knew who was behind a hit on its oil ministry, as well as their “hidden agenda”.
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Avaaz makes the claim they are under attack, then asks for donations? Sounds like a scam to get money to me, much like the long sob story the people on the street throw at you.
What gets me is that many major corporate sites with high levels of security have been taken down by groups much smaller than governments or major corporations, sites that would withstand an attack much more than the avaaz site could. Yet the avaaz site is still up to make these claims and beg for money. This makes me doubt that if there is an attack that it comes from an entity as powerful as a government or a corporation.
Seconding Wil's comment. It *could* be a real attack, but there's no way of knowing and it just feels strange.
Someone's written a post here,
http://wajones90.tumblr.com/post/22326898619/cyber-attacks-advocacy-groups-and-legitimacy
but it seems to be the only critical article so far.
Fully agree with what's said here and in the post
http://wajones90.tumblr.com/post/22326898619/cyber-attacks-advocacy-groups-and-legitimacy
I have supported Avaaz both by signatures and financially until now, but I will reconsider...
the word "scam" should now ring a bell in everybody's heads
the word "5k4m" should now ring a bell in our heads
Avaaz is a scam. This message just confirms it. look in their website for documents where they state the money they received and the salary of the president ricken patel.
1. According to 2010 form 990 Ricken Patel claimed ~180k as compensation for his work at Avaaz. It's not a huge amount when compared to other heads of NGOs (according to Charitynavigator.org average CEO pay is 150k).
2. The site was unusually slow but still standing due to sophisticated defences they employ - if I was getting under the skin of powerful foes the first thing I would do is make sure I'm ready for their retaliation.
3. Avaaz operates since 2007. During its 5 years in existence I haven't heard anyone complaining about their lack of integrity (with the exception of false claims that Avaaz was tied to George Soros). What's changed?
4. You don't want to donate? Then don't! No one's forcing you. It's not like they're saying "donate now or your signature will no longer count", they said from the start that the money will be spend to "rapidly build industrial-scale security, hire top hackers and technologists, increase the physical security of their most vulnerable staff, etc" - nowhere does it say that they need the money to repell the attack they are currently facing. What's more, they send a second email saying that the attacks have stopped but they are still collecting money to increase the level of security.
5. Avaaz is one of the very few NGOs that is capable of keeping the policy makers in check. We loose Avaaz and you can kiss your digital and otherwise human rights goodbye! Today's western society is phisically incapable of organising a revolution or even attending rallies (look up obesity figures) so internet activism is the only reasonable way we can make sure the politicians do their job, and the corporations don't make up the rules for themselves.
6. I appreciate your concerns but please, don't simply jump on the bandwagon - think for yourselves, do some research, make up your own mind. Thank you!
Hi all,
Follow up piece here: http://www.techweekeurope.co.uk/news/avaaz-faces-questions-over-ddos-begging-bowl-76626
Best
Tom Brewster
Deputy Editor
Well, "scam" may be too strong a word. But Avaaz needs to demonstrate accountability. See here:
http://www.facebook.com/notes/human-rights-foundation/avaaz-owes-an-apologyand-much-more/213089578728851