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Hacktivism, a fusion of hacking and activism, has become a significant force in the digital landscape.

One of the most prevalent tactics employed by hacktivists isDistributed Denial-of-Service(DDoS) attacks.

artistic representation of a hacker

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These attacks overwhelm websites with excessive traffic, causing disruptions and rendering them inaccessible.

Web defacement is quite a common tactic, where hacktivists alter website content to display political or ideological messages.

This approach embarrasses website owners and spreads the hacktivist message to a broader audience.

Exploiting vulnerabilities such as cross-site scripting or SQL injection, hacktivists can deface websites with relative ease.

Platforms like Zone-X track and display defaced websites globally, increasing the visibility and impact of these actions.

Data leaks and doxing are also popular methods used by hacktivists to expose sensitive information.

Doxing involves publicly revealingpersonal informationabout individuals, often to intimidate or harass them.

These tactics can have severe ethical and legal implications, highlighting the aggressive nature of some hacktivist activities.

Hacktivist groups increasingly collaborate to enhance their impact.

These alliances can include partnerships with DDoS service providers, other hacktivist groups, or even state-owned threat actors.

For instance, pro-Palestinian hacktivists have formed alliances with pro-Russian groups, while Indian hacktivists collaborate with Nepalese counterparts.

Such alliances allow for coordinated large-scale attacks, amplifying the effectiveness of their operations and causing significant disruptions.

In addition toransomware, hacktivists have found other ways to monetize their activities.

These monetization strategies provide financial support for their operations, enabling hacktivist groups to sustain and expand their activities.

Recruitment is vital for hacktivist groups, as they continually seek new members who share their ideologies.

These platforms also allow them to showcase their successes, attracting new followers and enhancing their influence.

As hacktivist groups continue to evolve, their impact on digital infrastructure and global affairs cannot be ignored.

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