
PCMag.com is reporting an unconfirmed threat to “erase the New York Stock Exchange from the Internet,” posted by hackers claiming to belong to the secretive Anonymous hacktavist collective.
Other representatives from Anonymous – whose jaunty headless suit-wearing logo belies the traditional view of hackers as cave-dwelling, disheveled and unwashed nerds – dispute the claims. Regardless, as the #OccupyWallStreet protests continue to attract major media attention, it is inevitable that we’ll see virtual signs of rebellion to match the movement in the streets.
In fact, it’s possible that a collective of brilliant, security-loophole exploiting hackers could cause serious damage to some of the financial systems at the heart of this viral movement…and a good deal faster than the rest of us trying to turn the ponderous wheels of the bureaucratic machine.