Anonymous has managed to breach hundreds of Twitter and email accounts belonging to the Islamic State in an operation it is calling #OpISIS. Social media is one of the main avenues of recruitment for the terrorist organisation, and the hacktivists are promising to cripple its ability to gain new members through the internet.
A video statement was released shortly after the coordinated cyberattack, claiming that the Islamic State is a virus and Anonymous is the cure. The group also explicitly reminded people that the terrorist group are not Muslims, and that Anonymous itself is comprised of people from all over the world; including actual Muslims, Christians, and Jews.
IS relies heavily on social media to spread its message and to fill its ranks. The terrorists have proven to be extremely tech savvy, and very well versed in modern pop culture. It is also adept that turning that knowledge into effective propaganda.
Whether this attack on the Islamic State will affect its recruitment efforts is questionable. While it undoubtedly has a strong social media presence, there are still many more potential IS recruits without an internet connection. Although, if the operation does have an impact on IS propaganda, it will be a major victory for Anonymous.
[Source: Dazed]
