Forum Post: Don't sweat the Trolls. Remember HBGary? They use sock puppets to spread propaganda and to cause dissension
Posted 13 years ago on Oct. 10, 2011, 2:44 p.m. EST by imrational
(527)
This content is user submitted and not an official statement
Anyone remember after Anonymous hacked HBGary? They found out that the US Government took bids on weaponizing social media in order to spread propaganda and encourage dissension among our enemies.
Who's to say if such weapons are in the hands of other groups?
Notice how some Trolls have different names but sound very similar? You can see Liberal Trolls and Conservative ones. Don't be meta-gamed!!!!
Add a comment after you read the article.
We need to stay on target.
- EVERYONE IS WELCOME TO JOIN.
- ONLY THE GOALS/OBJECTIVES MOST AMERICANS AGREE ON HAVE A CHANCE OF SUCCESS
- IF YOU WANT REFORM, THIS IS YOUR CHANCE. SUPPORT YOUR SIDE, BUT REALIZE YOU NEED PEOPLE OF OTHER IDEOLOGIES IF YOU WANT CHANGE.
Got to root those trolls out...Call them out. Ive been doing jus that every chance I get
Don't feed the trolls by getting into flamewars with them. Stay on target.
At the moment, downvoting garbage and upvoting constructive threads works pretty well. Better tools will be needed in the future, though.
Ignoring is more powerful than flaming
I noticed today that they had a whole team in Action from HB Gary I'd imagine, on the UK's Daily Mail in an article about Occupy Wall Street... I check out what the media are up to all the time and today it was so transparent that they were all false personas complaining.
Hopefully people will realize trolling for trolling and keep encouraging diversity of membership and consensus in ideas.
The problem which became apparent through the whole HB Gary revelations was that they created a team of trolls as was apparent today, this creates a false consensus, as if many people are thinking along the same lines. This is also extremely dangerous of course. It is much more necessary after seeing that the US department of defense is paying for false groups of personas to create attacks on journalists in England, that we root out groups of trolls... changing the conversation when the truth is being discussed etc.
Supposedly, there are references in news media overseas that such sock puppet software is being used. I've been trying to find the articles, but haven't yet.
I try not to be a conspiracy theorist, but it is interesting that secret memos have surfaced that talk about the US Government demanding Google provide emails and other information from wikileaks volunteer without a warrant http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203476804576613284007315072.html?mod=WSJ_WSJ_News_BlogsModule
and that Blackberry had worldwide pauses in message/email delivery recently http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-blackberry-outage-20111013,0,5915561.story
Did you know that the former HBGary CEO that instigated Anonymyous was actually at the OWS Zucotti Park? He dyed his hair and was on site walking around.
There's no conspiracy. Sadly, it's been proven to be true. This is the one of the best article I've read on the subject - it's technical but well worth the read even if you're not technical - it's a few pages long the article but very informative http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2011/02/anonymous-speaks-the-inside-story-of-the-hbgary-hack.ars The other's are all excellent pieces from the Guardian and less technical:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2011/feb/07/anonymous-attacks-us-security-company-hbgary
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2011/feb/17/wikileaks-internet
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2011/jun/22/hacking-anonymous
Then this is interesting also:
http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2011/02/black-ops-how-hbgary-wrote-backdoors-and-rootkits-for-the-government.ars/1
That should keep you busy for a while ;-)
Thanks for the info! I hate being a conspiracy theorist.
I know on YT, there are a lot of trolls with sock accounts and it is not something that could be stopped easily. I'm sure that if an organized group did it, they'd cover their tracks.
Hmmm.... unfortunately, I don't think there is much we can do about it, other than staying on target and presenting rational/intelligent stances on things.
And also make sure people don't forget what HB Gary are up to! I can't believe they have just gone straight back into business and seemingly business is booming. If that doesn't say my beautiful USA isn't fucked, I don't know what does. Those people should be tried. What happened to the Constitution? It doesn't exist anymore, does it?
They should have been investigated over that whole BofA and US Chamber of Commerce fiasco
Ignore trolls! it is the only weapon you have. (Disclaimer: I'm a professional troll, been trolling for 15 years and studying the art for just as long.)
If I'm trolling a board, and no one responds, I get board and leave quick. People must get a return on their effort or they lose interest.
This kind of thing has been going on for years - I remember hearing about it happening on, of all stupid things, video game forums. If you aren't aware of it, read the article, know what you're facing. Keep in mind also that there are companies which hire out forum posters not only to sow dissent, but to become integrated in the community so that they can endorse products, sites, and ideas.
Remember this: if you think for yourself, then they can't hurt you. Don't be afraid of them. Stay focused.
Anyone who has a different opinion than yours is labled a troll.
Nope. Not at all. I have had numerous civil discussions here and on other sites. If a person comes on here flame-baiting, throwing out insults and pushing dissension and division between our ranks, they are a troll.
yes!