So-called Internet “vigilantes” are certainly an interesting bunch. It’s no secret that law enforcement agencies in every country are completely overwhelmed by the sheer numbers of Internet bad guys, both within their own borders, and outside of their jurisdictions. Since the vast expanse of the Internet is largely impossible to police, an entire sub-culture of fed up, keyboard-wielding Clint Eastwood’s has formed to stand in the gap, with intriguing results.
Whether or not you agree with the entire notion of vigilantism (that is, if you can truly define the idea) is key to your approval of their activities. There are some who actually turn themselves into criminals in order to fight criminals. At the other end of the concept are those who are simply operating an electronic version of citizen’s arrest.
Online scammers that host bogus banking and commerce “phishing” websites are a favorite target of hacker vigilante squads. Some relatively mild-mannered groups, such as “Codefish Spam Watch,” have dedicated themselves to documenting and exposing the intricate techniques used by Internet bad guys. Once the tricks of the criminal trade are exposed, law enforcement agencies, as well as more “serious” vigilantes, are better prepared to shut down the scammers, spammers and phishers. Vigilante hackers with names like Sickophish and The Lad Wrecking Crew have made a point of seeking out bogus websites, cracking their security through various vulnerabilities, and replacing the scammer’s home pages with assorted warnings and disclaimers. Websites like hackinthebox.org offer online tutorials about techniques used to fight the bad guys.
Other hopeful online heroes have targeted those who seek to sexually exploit children. Perverted-justice.com lays traps for sexual predators using a network of volunteers who visit Internet chat rooms and forums, seeking to lure pedophiles to justice. They claim as a recent victory the conviction and sentencing of a Putnam City schoolteacher, who was busted trying to solicit sex from someone he believed to be a 13-year-old girl.
“Scambaiters” seek to turn the tables on the bad guys by beating them at their own game. Especially amusing to me are those who go after the Nigerian “419” (named after a section of Nigerian law) scammers. You’ve probably received a 419 email, which claims to be from a Nigerian prince, or some other desperate dignitary, who will give you a sizable percentage of his fortune if he can only transfer some money into your bank account. For a fascinating look at scambaiting, as well as some hilarious stories and photos, check out www.419eater.com.
However, such online heroism is not without its consequences. Law enforcement officials will not hesitate to bust vigilantes that they think have gone too far in the pursuit of online justice. Some vigilante websites such as Codefish and Israeli security firm Blue Security have been brutally counter-attacked and even knocked off of the Internet by scammers seeking vengeance for being exposed. Still, the Internet vigilantes remain committed to their various causes, and, for the most part, I think I approve.