Anonymous hackers hit Mexican drug cartel

Hacktivist group Anonymous is taking real-life security measures to protect bloggers joining it in exposing information about the "Los Zetas" Mexican drug cartel. Computer security firm Sophos said Anonymous' Ibero-American wing posted security steps to help bloggers in the #OpsCartel operation protect themselves. "Anonymous Iberoamerica says it is creating a 'special task force' by invitation only. It is advising members to send messages through a proxy server or through Tor and is pleading with members to avoid identifying themselves as part of Anonymous," Sophos said in a blog post. Bloody retaliation Sophos noted Anonymous' steps followed rumors that Zetas plans to hire "narco-hackers" to track down and physically retaliate against the hacktivists. "Retaliation by this bloody, brutal cartel has already resulted in a body count: a man and a woman have been killed and hung from a bridge in Nuevo Laredo with signs warning against posting anti-cartel blogs," it said. It cited reports another anti-cartel blogger, a girl, was found beheaded in Nuevo Laredo. On the other hand, it said an Anonymous member previously claimed that Los Zetas abducted a volunteer who was distributing OpsCartel leaflets in Veracruz. Anonymous also urged its members to be very careful and take care to avoid jeopardizing third parties. “THIS IS NOT A GAME," Anonymous is urging members. “Your life and the lives of others can be in danger. Be very careful, and avoid jeopardizing third parties." Widget Anonymous has also posted a widget that it claims will enable members to send “completely anonymous denunciations" regarding cartel crimes or corrupt authorities. The group noted the denunciations so far submitted to Mexican authorities only result in the narco-criminals having access to personal data, which they use to assassinate people “with impunity." “Anonymous will not allow this any more, and this is the reason why we have decided to put in place our own system of 100 percent anonymous denunciations. By means of this widget, you can send completely anonymous denunciations regarding delinquency facts or news of corrupt authorities in your community, which we will investigate," it said. Publicity attack Sophos said Anonymous' "pullback" comes mere days before Anonymous had pledged to launch a publicity attack to out Los Zetas collaborators. “You made a huge mistake by taking one of us," the group initially said in its first OpsCartel communique, referring to a member kidnapped during a street protest in Veracruz. Los Zetas has reportedly begun hunting down the hackers. — TJD, GMA News