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{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2011}}
'''Cody''' is a surname and given name. It may also be spelled Codey, Codie, Codee, Kodi or Kody. Cody may refer to:
{{Infobox organization
{{wiktionary|Cody}}
|name = Cody
{{TOCright}}
|bgcolor = #82d982
==People==
|image = Cody Flag.svg
===Surname===
|size = 200px
*[[Cody (surname)]]
|alt =
*[[Samuel Franklin Cody]] (1862–1917), airman
|caption = A flag conveying symbolism associated with Cody. The imagery of the "suit without a head" represents leaderless organization and Codyymity.<ref name="Lehrer">{{cite web |url=http://vimeo.com/19806469 |title=Gabriella Coleman on Cody |authorlink= |date=February 9, 2011 |work=Brian Lehrer Live |publisher=Vimeo |accessdate=March 24, 2011}}</ref>
|map = Cody at Scientology in Los Angeles.jpg
|msize = 200px
|malt =
|mcaption = Individuals appearing in public as Cody, wearing the [[Guy Fawkes mask]]s popularized by the comic book and film ''[[V for Vendetta]]''.
|formation = 2003–present
|type = [[Internet meme]];{{-}}[[Multiple-use name]]/[[Avatar (computing)|avatar]];{{-}}[[Virtual community]];{{-}}[[Voluntary association]]
|purpose = Entertainment;{{-}}[[Internet activism]];{{-}}[[Troll (Internet)|Internet trolling]];{{-}}[[Internet vigilantism]]
|region_served = Global
|membership = [[Decentralization|Decentralized]] [[affinity group]]
|remarks =
|Quote = "We are Cody. We are Legion. We do not forgive. We do not forget. Expect us.”


}}
===First name===
'''Cody''' (used as a [[mass noun]]) is an [[Internet meme]] that originated in 2003 on the [[imageboard]] [[4chan]], representing the concept of many online and offline community users simultaneously existing as an [[anarchy|anarchic]], digitized [[global brain]].<ref name="citypaper">{{cite web |url= http://www.citypaper.com/columns/story.asp?id=15543 |publisher=[[Baltimore City Paper]] |date=April 2, 2008 |accessdate=July 3, 2008 |title=Serious Business: Cody Takes On Scientology (and Doesn't Afraid of Anything) |last=Landers |first=Chris}}</ref> It is also generally considered to be a blanket term for members of certain Internet subcultures, a way to refer to the actions of people in an environment where their actual identities are not known.<ref name="ParralFeb21">{{cite news |author=Jessica Parral, James Clark |title=Internet Group Takes Action Against Scientology. Quote they use "We are Cody. We are Legion. We do not forgive. We do not forget. Expect us.”
*[[Codey Burki]] (born 1987), Canadian ice hockey player
|url=http://www.cityonahillpress.com/article.php?id=1050 |work=[[City on a Hill Press]] (student newspaper) |publisher=[[University of California, Santa Cruz]] |date= February 2, 2008 |accessdate=February 21, 2008}}<!--BETTER REFERENCE FOR THIS, KTHXBAI--></ref>
*[[Cody Cameron]] (born 1970), American voice actor
*[[Kody Chamberlain]] (born 1972), American comic book artist
*[[Cody Chesnutt]] (born 1970), American musician
*[[Cody Hay]] (born 1983), Canadian figure skater
*[[Cody Kasch]] (born 1987), American actor
*[[Cody Klop]] (born 1993), American actor
*[[Kodi Kaatha Kumaran]] (1904-1932), Indian political activist
*[[Cody Linley]] (born 1989), American actor
*[[Cody Longo]] (born 1988), American actor
*[[Cody McDonald]] (born 1986), English football player
*[[Cody McLeod]] (born 1984), Canadian ice hockey player
*[[Kodi Ramamurthy Naidu]] (1882-1942), Indian bodybuilder
*[[Kodi Ramakrishna]], Indian director
*[[Cody Ransom]] (born 1976), American baseball player
*[[Cody Rhodes]] (born 1985), American professional wrestler
*[[Cody Simpson]] (born 1997), Australian pop/R&B singer
*[[Kodi Smit-McPhee]] (born 1996), Australian actor
*[[Cody Votolato]] (born 1982), American musician
*[[Cody Walker]] (born 1967), American poet
*[[Cody Willard]] (born 1972), American journalist


In its early form, the concept has been adopted by a decentralized online community acting [[Cody work|Codyly]] in a coordinated manner, usually toward a loosely self-agreed goal, and primarily [[Lulz|focused on entertainment]]. Beginning with 2008, the Cody collective has become increasingly associated with collaborative, international [[hacktivism]], undertaking protests and other actions, often in retaliation against anti-[[Copyright infringement|digital piracy]] campaigns by motion picture and recording industry trade associations.<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-11371315 Activists target recording industry websites], BBC News, 20 September 2010.</ref><ref>Beaumont, Claudine. [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/internet/8013548/Music-and-film-industry-websites-targeted-in-cyber-attacks.html Music and film industry websites targeted in cyber attacks], ''The Telegraph'', 20 September, 2010.</ref> Actions credited to "Cody" are undertaken by unidentified individuals who apply the Cody label to themselves as attribution.<ref name="shaundavies1">{{cite news |last=Davies |first=Shaun |title=The internet pranksters who started a war |publisher=[[ninemsn]] |date=May 8, 2008 |url=http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=459214 |accessdate=October 29, 2008}}</ref>
==Fiction==
*Cody, fictional character in the animated television series ''[[Total Drama Island]]''
*[[Cody (telemovie)|''Cody'' (telemovie)]], series of Australian television movies
*[[Cody Banks]], fictional character in the films ''Agent Cody Banks'' and ''Agent Cody Banks 2''
*[[Cody (Final Fight)]], fictional character in the video games ''Final Fight'' and ''Street Fighter''
*[[Cody Hida]], fictional character in the television series ''Digimon Adventure 02''
*[[Cody Jackson]], fictional character in the television series ''Flight 29 Down''
*Cody Jarrett, fictional character in the 1949 film ''[[White Heat]]''
*[[Cody Madison]], fictional character in the television series ''Baywatch''
*[[Cody Martin]], fictional character in the television series ''The Suite Life of Zack and Cody'' and ''The Suite Life on Deck''
*Cody Maverick, fictional character in the 2007 film ''[[Surf's Up (film)|Surf's Up]]''
*Cody Pomeray, fictional character based on Neal Cassady in several novels by Jack Kerouac, including ''[[Visions of Cody]]''
*[[Commander Cody (disambiguation)]], multiple meanings
*Kody Meyers, fictional character in the episode Bait of [[NCIS (TV series)]], played by [[Michael_Welch_(actor)|Michael Welch]].
*Cody Mcgoo, fictional character in the television series ''[[Scrubs (TV series)|Scrubs]]'' played by Bruce Willis
*Cody, fictional character in the cartoon movie ''[[Rescuers Down Under]]'', voiced by Adam Ryen


Although not necessarily tied to a single online entity, many websites are strongly associated with Cody. This includes notable [[imageboards]] such as [[4chan]], their associated [[wikis]], [[Encyclopædia Dramatica]], and a number of [[Internet forum|forums]].<ref>{{cite news |author=Cade Metz |date=May 14, 2008 |title=Google kills Cody AdSense account |work=[[The Register]] |url=http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/05/14/google_kills_enturbulation_adsense_account/}}</ref> After a series of controversial, widely-publicized protests and [[DDoS|distributed denial of service]] (DDoS) attacks by Cody in 2008, incidents linked to its cadre members have increased.<ref name="elusive">{{cite news |last=Tsotsis |first=Alexia |title=My Date with Cody: A Rare Interview with the Elusive Internet Troublemakers |work=[[LA Weekly]] |date=February 4, 2009 |url=http://www.laweekly.com/2009-02-05/columns/my-date-with-Cody-a-rare-interview-with-the-illusive-internet-troublemakers/ |accessdate=February 7, 2009}}</ref> In consideration of its capabilities, Cody has been posited by [[CNN]] to be one of the three major successors to [[WikiLeaks]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/europe/02/23/wikileaks.Cody/index.html?hpt=C1 |title=Cody vows to take leaking to the next level |publisher=CNN |date=February 23, 2011 |accessdate=March 29, 2011}}</ref>
==Places==
;United States
*[[Cody, Florida]]
*[[Cody (Duluth)]], Minnesota
*[[Cody, Nebraska]]
*[[Cody, Wyoming]]
;Canada
*[[Cody, British Columbia]]
;India
*[[Kodi, India]]


==Other uses==
==Background==
===Origins as a concept and a meme===
*''[[Come on Die Young]]'' (CODY), 1999 album and song by Scottish band Mogwai
[[File:CodyOccupy.jpg|thumb|A member holding an Cody flier at Occupy Wall Street, a protest that the group actively supported, September 17, 2011]]
*[[CodY protein family]] - a bacterial protein family
The name Cody itself is inspired by the perceived Codyymity under which users post images and comments on the Internet. Usage of the term Cody in the sense of a shared identity began on [[imageboard]]s. A tag of Cody is assigned to visitors who leave comments without identifying the originator of the posted content. Users of imageboards sometimes jokingly acted as if Cody were a real person. As the popularity of imageboards increased, the idea of Cody as a collective of unnamed individuals became an [[internet meme]].<ref name="whipple">{{cite news |last=Whipple |first=Tom |title= Scientology: the Cody protesters. |work=The Times |location=UK |date=June 20, 2008 |url=http://women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/women/the_way_we_live/article4173635.ece }}</ref>
{{disambig}}
[[Category:Place name disambiguation pages]]
[[Category:American unisex given names]]


Cody broadly represents the concept of any and all people as an unnamed collective. As a [[multiple-use name]], individuals who share in the "Cody" moniker also adopt a shared [[online identity]], characterized as [[Hedonism|hedonistic]] and uninhibited. This is intended as a satirical, conscious adoption of the [[online disinhibition effect]].<ref name="Search Engine">{{cite news |last=Brown |first=Jesse |title=Community Organization with Digital Tools: The face of Cody |work=MediaShift Idea Lab: Reinventing Community News for the Digital Age |publisher=[[Public Broadcasting Service|PBS]] |date=February 7, 2008 |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20080211091428/http://www.cbc.ca/searchengine/blog/2008/02/this_weeks_show_feb708_1.html |archivedate=Feb 11, 2008 |url= http://www.pbs.org/idealab/2008/03/community-organization-with-di.html |accessdate=March 3, 2008}}</ref>
[[de:Cody]]

[[es:Cody (desambiguación)]]
{{cquote|We [Cody] just happen to be a group of people on the internet who need{{mdash}}just kind of an outlet to do as we wish, that we wouldn't be able to do in regular society. ...That's more or less the point of it. Do as you wish. ... There's a common phrase: 'we are doing it for the lulz.'|||Trent Peacock. ''[[Search Engine (radio show)|Search Engine]]: The face of Cody'', February 7, 2008.<ref name="Search Engine"/>}}
[[fa:کودی]]

[[fr:Cody]]
Definitions tend to emphasize the fact that the concept, and by extension the collective of users, cannot be readily encompassed by a simple definition. Instead it is often defined by [[aphorism]]s describing perceived qualities.<ref name="citypaper"/> One self-description is:
<blockquote>We are Cody. We are Legion. We do not forgive. We do not forget. Expect us.<ref>[We Are Cody, We Are Legion], ''Yale Law and Technology'', November 9, 2009</ref></blockquote>

===Iconography and aesthetics===
{{Expand section|information on Cody subcultural elements; common images, themes, concepts, etc|date=February 2011}}
As a [[cyberculture]], Cody aesthetics are based in various forms of [[shock humor]], including genres of [[cringe comedy|cringe]], [[surreal humor|surreal]], and [[black comedy]].<ref name="Search Engine"/>

===Online composition===
{{Rquote|right|[Cody is] the first Internet-based [[superconsciousness]]. Cody is a group, in the sense that a flock of birds is a group. How do you know they're a group? Because they're traveling in the same direction. At any given moment, more birds could join, leave, peel off in another direction entirely.|Chris Landers. ''[[Baltimore City Paper]]'', April 2, 2008.<ref name="citypaper"/>}}
Cody consists largely of users from multiple [[imageboard]]s and [[Internet forums]]. In addition, several [[wiki]]s and [[Internet Relay Chat]] networks are maintained to overcome the limitations of traditional imageboards. These modes of communication are the means by which Cody protesters participating in [[Project Chanology]] communicate and organize upcoming protests.<ref name="George-Cosh">{{cite news |last=George-Cosh |first=David |title=Online group declares war on Scientology |work=National Post |location=Canada |publisher=[[CanWest Global Communications|Canwest Publishing Inc.]] |date=January 25, 2008 |accessdate=January 25, 2008 |url=http://www.nationalpost.com/most_popular/story.html?id=261308 |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20080129063500/http://www.nationalpost.com/most_popular/story.html?id=261308 |archivedate= January 29, 2008}}</ref><ref name="SingelWar">{{cite news |author=[[Ryan Singel]] |title=War Breaks Out Between Hackers and Scientology – There Can Be Only One |work=[[Wired News]] |date=January 23, 2008 |url=http://blog.wired.com/27bstroke6/2008/01/Cody-attac.html |accessdate=January 25, 2008}}</ref>

A "loose coalition of Internet denizens,"<ref name="JamesHarrison"/> the group is banded together by the Internet, through sites such as [[4chan]],<ref name="George-Cosh"/><ref name="JamesHarrison"/> 711chan,<ref name="George-Cosh"/> [[Encyclopædia Dramatica]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=459249 |last=Davies |first=Shaun |title=Critics point finger at satirical website |work=National Nine News |date=May 8, 2008}}</ref> [[Internet Relay Chat|IRC]] channels,<ref name="George-Cosh"/> and YouTube.<ref name="ParralFeb21"/> [[Social networking service]]s, such as Facebook, are used for the creation of groups which reach out to people to mobilize in real-world protests.<ref name="HowardDahdah">{{cite news |last=Dahdah |first= Howard |title={{-'}}Cody' group declares online war on Scientology |work=[[Computerworld]]: The Voice of IT Management |publisher=[[IDG|IDG Communications]] |url=http://www.computerworld.com.au/index.php/id;632197333 |date=February 8, 2008 |accessdate=February 8, 2008}}</ref>

Cody has no leader or controlling party and relies on the collective power of its individual participants acting in such a way that the net effect benefits the group.<ref name="JamesHarrison">{{cite news |author=James Harrison |title=Scientology protesters take action around world |work=[[The State News]] (student newspaper) |url=http://www.lansinglowdown.com/index.php/blog/entertainment/2008/02/internet_group__ |publisher=[[Michigan State University]] |date=February 12, 2008 |accessdate=February 25, 2008}}</ref> "Anyone who wants to can be Cody and work toward a set of goals..." a member of Cody explained to the ''[[Baltimore City Paper]].'' "We have this agenda that we all agree on and we all coordinate and act, but all act independently toward it, without any want for recognition. We just want to get something that we feel is important done..."<ref name="citypaper"/>

===Membership===
{{Expand section|information on revealed or former members (Gregg Housh, Barrett Brown, etc)|date=March 2011}}
<!-- deleted file removed [[File:Isupport2.jpg|thumb|60px]] -->
According to self-ascribed members of Cody, membership is conditional but easily achieved, being as simple as concealing oneself while performing online activities. Several members or former members have been interviewed or become noted for their own participation in certain Cody activities.{{Citation needed|date=January 2012}}
Asked about the demographics of Cody, Commander X indicated that the common conception of Cody as a youth group is a misconception. "The popular impression is....skewed. There are older people, from the direction of the [[Chaos Computer Club]] – that can if needed rein in the "kids" who appear to dominate Cody Ops."{{Citation needed|date=January 2012}}
Due to the stand-alone complex nature of the group there is no real membership or leadership. Decisions are made on a personal level, advertised through social websites, and if many people on these websites decide that the cause is righteous enough they will continue to spread the cause until the date of the event where everyone who has heard about the cause and found it worthy of their time will add to the Cody army of sorts to accomplish their goal. Due to this the total number of "Cody" members is a constant unknown, as anyone who visits the social websites can join in the activities of the group of their own free will thereby becoming a member of the group. Usually only a small portion of the Cody group will act at any one time, however direct attacks on the group have been known to cause more members to join the cause and retaliate.{{Citation needed|date=January 2012}}

====Commander X and the People's Liberation Front====
Provides interviews and videos about Cody.<ref>{{cite web|author=by Commander X |url=http://vimeo.com/21608403 |title=Cody on Vimeo |publisher=Vimeo.com |date= |accessdate=2011-08-30}}</ref> Says that "we are not a terrorist organization". In 2011, he was at the center of an investigation into Cody by Aaron Barr, who claimed to have identified him as a [[San Francisco]] gardener. Interviewed following the [[Timeline of events involving Cody#Attack on HBGary Federal|attack on HBGary Federal]], Commander X revealed that while Barr suspected that he was a leader of the group, he was in his own words a "peon". However, Commander X did claim to be a skilled hacker and founding member of an allied organization, the [[People's Liberation Front (group)|Peoples Liberation Front]] (PLF). According to Commander X, Peoples Liberation Front, collective of hactivists founded in 1985, acted with CodyOps, another sub-group of Cody, to carry out denial-of-service attacks against government websites in Tunisia, Iran, Egypt, and Bahrain. Explaining the relationship between Cody and the PLF, he suggested an analogy to [[NATO]], with the PLF being a smaller sub-group that could choose to opt-in or out of a specific project. "CodyOps and the PLF are both capable of creating huge "Internet armies". The main difference is Cody Ops moves with huge force, but very slowly because of their decision making process. The PLF moves with great speed, like a scalpel."<ref name="Tynan">{{cite web |url=http://www.itworld.com/internet/137590/conversation-commander-x?page=0%2C0 |title=A conversation with Commander X |first=Dan |last=Tynan |date=February 18, 2011 |work=ITworld.com |publisher=[[IDG]]}}</ref> On September 23rd, a homeless man in California named Christopher Doyon was arrested, under charges that he participated online as a part of a group called "PLF", and as "Cody". <ref>{{cite web|title=Feds: Homeless hacker 'Commander X' arrested|last=Doran|first=Miles|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-31727_162-20110912-10391695.html|publisher=CBS|accessdate=28 September 2011}}</ref> He pleaded not guilty to charges.<ref>{{cite web|title=Alleged 'Commander X' Cody hacker pleads not guilty|last=Mills|first=Elinor|url=http://news.cnet.com/8301-27080_3-20111057-245/alleged-commander-x-Cody-hacker-pleads-not-guilty/|publisher=CNET|accessdate=28 September 2011}}</ref>

====Low Orbit Ion Cannon====
{{main|LOIC}}
The Low Orbit Ion Cannon is a network stress testing application that has been used by Cody to accomplish its DDOS attacks. Individual users download the LOIC and voluntarily contribute their computer to a bot net. This bot net is then directed against the target by CodyOps.<ref>{{citeweb|last=Rogers|first=Tim|url=http://www.dmagazine.com/Home/D_Magazine/2011/April/How_Barrett_Brown_Helped_Overthrow_the_Government_of_Tunisia.aspx?p=1 |title=Barrett Brown is Cody |publisher=D magazine |date=2011-05-09 |accessdate=2011-04-1}}</ref>Joining the bot net and volunteering one's resources for the use of the group is thus one way of being a "member," a concept that is otherwise hard to define.

==Activities==
<!--{{Main|Timeline of events involving Cody}} will try and do a summary here soon. -->
===Protest actions===
====The Pirate Bay, Megaupload, SOPA protest====
{{Wikinews|Pirate Bay case: Internet group attacks websites in "Operation Baylout"}}
In April 2009, after [[The Pirate Bay]] co-defendants were found guilty of facilitating extensive copyright infringement "in a commercial and organized form", Cody responded with DDoS attacks against the [[International Federation of the Phonographic Industry]] (IFPI), an organisation responsible for safeguarding recording artists' rights.<ref>Leyden, John. [http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/04/20/ddos_hacktivism_pirate_bay/ Music industry sites DDoSed after Pirate Bay verdict], The Register, 20 April, 2009.</ref> When co-founders lost their appeal against convictions for encouraging piracy, Cody again targeted the IFPI, labelling them "parasites". A statement read: "We will continue to attack those who embrace censorship. You will not be able to hide your ludicrous ways to control us."<ref>Moya, Jared. [http://www.zeropaid.com/news/91404/operation-payback-targets-ifpi-for-pirate-bay-verdict/ Operation: Payback Targets IFPI for Pirate Bay Verdict], zeropaid.com. November 29, 2010.</ref><ref>Constantin, Lucian. [http://news.softpedia.com/news/Cody-Attacks-IFPI-After-The-Pirate-Bay-Loses-Appeal-169380.shtml], Softpedia, November 29, 2010.</ref>

{{Wikinews|US government, music industry websites taken offline in web attack}}
On January 19, 2012, [[Megaupload]], a website providing [[file sharing]] services, was shut down by the [[US Department of Justice]] and the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation]].<ref name="MegauploadNYT">{{cite news |last=Sisario |first=Ben |date=January 20, 2012 |title=7 Charged as F.B.I. Closes a Top File-Sharing Site |work=New York Times |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/21/technology/megaupload-indictment-internet-piracy.html |accessdate=January 21, 2012}}</ref> This led to what Cody called "the single largest Internet attack in its history".<ref name="RTMegauploadDOS">{{cite web |date=January 20, 2012 |title=Internet strikes back: Cody' Operation Megaupload explained |work=[[RT (TV network)|RT]] |url=http://rt.com/usa/news/Cody-barrettbrown-sopa-megaupload-241/ |accessdate=January 21, 2012}}</ref> Barrett Brown, described as a spokesperson for the group Cody by news outlet [[RT (TV network)|RT]], said the timing of the raid "couldn’t have come at a worse time in terms of the government’s standpoint".<ref name="RTMegauploadDOS"/> With the [[Stop Online Piracy Act]] (SOPA) protests only a day old, it was claimed that internet users were "by-and-far ready to defend an open Internet".<ref name="RTMegauploadDOS"/>
[[File:NoActaColor.jpg|thumb|225px|<center>Cody vs. [[Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement|ACTA]]]]
Brown told RT that the Department of Justice website was shut down only 70 minutes after the start of the attack. Days later many of the sites were still down or slow to load. The attack disabled a number of websites, including those belonging to the Justice Department, the FBI, Universal Music Group, the [[Recording Industry Association of America]] (RIAA), the [[Motion Picture Association of America]] (MPAA), and Broadcast Music, Inc.<ref name="RTMegauploadDOS" /> "Even without SOPA having been passed yet, the federal government always had tremendous power to do some of the things that they want to do. So if this is what can occur without SOPA being passed, imagine what can occur after SOPA is passed," Brown commented.<ref name="RTMegauploadDOS" /> Some commentators and observers have asserted that the FBI shut down of Megaupload proves that SOPA and PIPA are unnecessary.<ref>{{cite web |last=Popper |first=Ben |date=January 20, 2012 |title=Department of Justice shutdown of rogue site MegaUpload shows SOPA is unnecessary |work=VentureBeat |url= http://venturebeat.com/2012/01/20/department-of-justice-doj-dept-of-justice-megaupload-piracy-sopa-pipa/ |accessdate=January 21, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Bradley |first=Tony |date=January 20, 2012 |title=MegaUpload Takedown Proves SOPA and PIPA Are Unnecessary |work=Net Work |publisher=PCWorld |url= http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/248469/megaupload_takedown_proves_sopa_and_pipa_are_unnecessary.html |accessdate=January 21, 2012}}</ref> Although the actions of Cody received support, some commentators argued that the denial of service attack risked damaging the anti-SOPA case.<ref>{{cite news | last = Kelion | first = Leo | date = January 20, 2012 | title = Hackers retaliate over Megaupload website shutdown | work = BBC News | url = http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-16646023 | accessdate = January 21, 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | last = Wood | first = Molly | authorlink = Molly Wood | date = January 19, 2012 | title = Cody goes nuclear; everybody loses? | work = CNET | url = http://news.cnet.com/8301-31322_3-57362437-256/Cody-goes-nuclear-everybody-loses/ | accessdate = January 21, 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | last = Jonsson | first = Patrik | date = January 21, 2012 | title = SOPA: Feds go after Megaupload as Congress reviews anti-piracy bills | work = The Christian Science Monitor | url = http://www.alaskadispatch.com/article/sopa-feds-go-after-megaupload-congress-reviews-anti-piracy-bills | accessdate = January 22, 2012 }}</ref>

The attack included a new, sophisticated method whereby internet users who clicked on links placed in chat rooms and on twitter participated, some without their knowledge, in a denial of service attack, thereby breaking existing US law. Cody used "[[Low Orbit Ion Cannon]]" (LOIC) to attack supporters of SOPA on January 19th, 2012. Cody claimed this to be their largest attack with over 5,635 people participating in the DDoS attack via LOIC.<ref>http://trickvilla.com/?p=5058</ref> LOIC was utilized by many attackers, despite the fact that a network firewall could easily filter out network traffic it generates, thus rendering it only partly effective.

====Operation Global Blackout====
Operation Global Blackout is a threatened digital protest action by activist group Cody. In a Video released by the group, website [[Facebook]] was described as the target of the attack, the group stating that they may shut down Facebook's 60,000 servers.<ref>http://rt.com/usa/news/Cody-facebook-cbs-loic-493/</ref>

==Reception and impact==
{{Expand section|reactions to Cody including praise and criticism|date=February 2011}}

===Media coverage===
====KTTV Fox 11 news report====
<!--DO NOT mention any names of living individuals unless they were EXPLICITLY stated in the Fox 11 report. Any user who adds the individual's name may be blocked. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Biographies_of_living_persons-->
[[Image:Cody Fox 11.jpg|thumb|[[KTTV]] Fox 11 investigative report on Cody.]]
On July 26, 2007, [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] affiliate [[KTTV]] in [[Los Angeles]], California aired a report on Cody, calling them a group of "[[Hacker (computer security)|hacker]]s on steroids," "domestic terrorists," and collectively an "Internet hate machine." The report covered an attack on a Myspace user, who claimed to have had his Myspace account "hacked" into seven times by Cody, and plastered with images of [[gay pornography]]. The Myspace user also claimed a virus written by Cody hackers was sent to him and to ninety friends on his Myspace contact list, crashing thirty-two of his friends' computers. The report featured an unnamed former "hacker" who had fallen out with Cody and explained his view of the Cody culture. In addition, the report also mentioned "raids" on [[Habbo]], a "national campaign to spoil the [[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows|new Harry Potter book]] ending," and threats to "[[Jake Brahm|bomb sports stadiums]]."<ref name="elusive"/><ref name="foxnewsCodyreport">{{cite news |author=Phil Shuman (investigative reporter) |title=FOX 11 Investigates: 'Cody{{'-}} |url=http://www.myfoxla.com/myfox/pages/Home/Detail?contentId=3894628&version=7&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=VSTY&pageId=1.1.1&sflg=1 |publisher=[[KTTV]] ([[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]]) |work=[http://www.myfoxla.com/myfox/ MyFOX Los Angeles] |date=July 26, 2007 |archiveurl=http://replay.web.archive.org/20080522123812/http://www.myfoxla.com/myfox/pages/Home/Detail?contentId=3894628&version=7&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=VSTY&pageId=1.1.1&sflg=1|archivedate=May 22, 2008}}</ref>

The day following the KTTV report, ''[[Wired News]]'' blogger and journalist [[Ryan Singel]] derided the report, stating that the "hacker group" in fact consisted of "supremely bored 15-year olds," and that the news report was "by far the funniest prank anyone on the board has ever pulled off."<ref name="SingelInvestigative">{{cite news |author=[[Ryan Singel]] |title=Investigative Report Reveals Hackers Terrorize the Internet for LULZ |work=[[Wired News]] |date=July 27, 2007 |url=http://blog.wired.com/27bstroke6/2007/07/investigative-r.html |accessdate=February 23, 2008}}</ref> In February 2008, an Australia-based ''[[Today Tonight]]'' broadcast included a segment of the KTTV report, preceded by the statement: "The [[Church of Scientology]] has ramped up the offensive against Cody, accusing the group of religious bigotry and claiming they are sick, twisted souls."<ref name="SeymourFeb11">{{cite news |author=[http://au.todaytonight.yahoo.com/teambio/37257/bryan-seymour Bryan Seymour] ([[reporter]]) |title=Cody takes Scientology war to streets |url=http://au.todaytonight.yahoo.com/article/490551/lifestyle/Cody-takes-scientology-war-streets |work=[[Today Tonight]] |publisher=[[Seven Network]] |format=[[News broadcasting|newscast]] |date=February 11, 2008 |accessdate=February 20, 2008}}</ref>

====Al Jazeera coverage====
The English language edition of [[Al Jazeera]] published regular articles on Cody and its activism. The journal also ran opinion pieces on the group, sometimes laudatory, describing it as a future form of internet-based social activism:

"This is the future, whether one approves or not, and the failure on the part of governments and media alike to understand, and contend with the rapid change now afoot, ought to remind everyone concerned why it is that this movement is necessary in the first place."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://english.aljazeera.net/indepth/opinion/2011/02/201121321487750509.html|title=Cody and the global correction - opinion|date=Feb. 16, 2011|publisher=Al Jazeera English|language=English|accessdate=9 October 2011}}</ref>

====''Search Engine'' subject of focus====
In January 2008, ''[[Search Engine (radio show)|Search Engine]]'', a Canadian radio show published by [[CBC Radio One]], began reporting on Project Chanology. Host Jesse Brown called Cody "clowns," citing their lack of coordination, vulgar humor, and pack mentality, and invited them to confront him in person. On February 7, two members of Cody appeared on the show, explaining the nature of the group and the genuine criticism they held for Scientology.<ref name="Search Engine"/> After Cody held a protest in front of [[Scientology]] compounds around the world on February 10, 2008, Brown admitted that they had "proved me wrong."<ref>[http://www.cbc.ca/searchengine/blog/2008/02/this_weeks_show_feb1408.html This Week's Show (Feb.14/08)] CBC Radio</ref>

The nature of the protest was unprecedented—picketers wore masks and refused to divulge names—and sparked a follow-up discussion on the show about journalistic standards for source protection, and the meaning of identity. Brown brought the issue to his own workplace, interviewing [[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|CBC]]'s president [[Hubert Lacroix]] in reaction to a conflict between him and an Cody critic who went by the handle "Ouimet."<ref name="Search Engine">{{cite news |last=Brown |first=Jesse |title=Cody blogging at the CBC: "Ouimet" vs. President and CEO Hubert T Lacroix |work=MediaShift Idea Lab: Reinventing Community News for the Digital Age |publisher=[[Public Broadcasting Service|PBS]] |date=February 7, 2008 |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20080217215558/http://www.cbc.ca/searchengine/blog/2008/02/Cody_blogging_at_the_cbc.html |archivedate=February 17, 2008 |url= http://www.pbs.org/idealab/2008/03/community-organization-with-di.html |accessdate=February 19, 2011}}</ref>

===Reaction from law enforcement agencies===
====Arrests====
In December 2010, the Dutch police arrested a 16-year old for cyberattacks against Visa, MasterCard and PayPal in conjunction with Cody' DDOS attacks against companies opposing Wikileaks.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/213120/dutch_arrest_16yearold_related_to_wikileaks_attacks.html |title=Dutch Arrest 16-year-old Related to WikiLeaks Attacks |publisher=Pcworld.com |date=2010-12-09 |accessdate=2011-08-30}}</ref>

In January 2011, the [[Federal Bureau of Investigations|FBI]] issued more than 40 search warrants in a probe against the Cody attacks on companies that opposed Wikileaks. The FBI did not issue any arrest warrants, but issued a statement that participating in DDOS attacks is a criminal offense with a sentence of up to 10 years in prison.<ref name='fbi-Cody'>{{cite web|author=<!--start post navigation--> Previous post Next post |url=http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2011/01/fbi-Cody/ |title=FBI Knocks Down 40 Doors in Probe of Pro-WikiLeaks Attackers |publisher=Wired.com |date= |accessdate=2011-08-30}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fbi.gov/news/pressrel/press-releases/warrants_012711 |title=Search Warrants Executed in the United States as Part of Ongoing Cyber Investigation |publisher=Fbi.gov |date=2011-01-27 |accessdate=2011-08-30}}</ref>

In January 2011, the British police arrested five boys and men between the ages of 15 and 26 with suspicion of participating in Cody DDOS attacks.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/2011/01/27/idINIndia-54454720110127 |title=UK police arrest WikiLeaks backers for cyber attacks |publisher=Uk.reuters.com |date= January 27, 2011|accessdate=2011-08-30}}</ref>

Matthew George, a [[Newcastle, New South Wales]] resident, concerned with forthcoming Australian internet filtration legislation, was arrested for his participation in Cody DDOS activities. George participated in Cody IRC discussions, and allowed his computer to be used in a denial of service attack associated with [[February 2010 Australian Cyberattacks|Operation Titstorm]]. Tracked down by authorities, he was fined $550, though he was not fully aware that his actions were illegal, and believed his participation in Operation Titstorm had been a legal form of civil protest. His experience left him disillusioned with the potential of online Codyymity, warning others: "There is no way to hide on the internet, no matter how hard you cover your tracks you can get caught. You're not invincible."<ref name="Whyte">{{cite news |url=http://www.smh.com.au/technology/security/meet-the-hacktivist-who-tried-to-take-down-the-government-20110314-1btkt.html |title= Meet the hacktivist who tried to take down the government |first=Sarah |last=Whyte |date=March 14, 2011 |work=Sydney Morning Herald }}</ref>

On June 10, 2011, the [[National Police Corps of Spain|Spanish police]] captured three purported members of Cody in the cities of [[Gijón|Gijon]], Barcelona and [[Valencia, Spain|Valencia]]. The operation deactivated the main server from which the three men coordinated DDoS attacks. This particular group had made attacks on the web servers of the Playstation store, [[BBVA]], [[Bankia]], and the websites of the governments of Egypt, Algeria, Libya, Iran, Chile, Colombia and New Zealand. The operation revealed that their structure consisted of "cells" which at any given time could coordinate attacks through the downloading of software; the decision-making process to attack occurred in [[chat room]]s. The Spanish national police stated that this operation corresponds to the fact that the Spanish government and [[NATO]] considers this group of hackers a threat to national security.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.elpais.com/articulo/espana/Policia/Nacional/da/desarticulada/cupula/Cody/Espana/elpepuesp/20110610elpepunac_3/Tes |title=La Policía española golpea a Cody · ELPAÍS.com |publisher=Elpais.com |date= |accessdate=2011-08-30}}</ref>

On June 13, 2011, officials in Turkey arrested 32 individuals that were allegedly involved in DDoS attacks on Turkish government websites. These members of Cody were captured in different cities of Turkey including [[Istanbul]] and [[Ankara]]. According to PC Magazine these individuals were arrested after they attacked these websites as a response to the Turkish government demand to ISPs to implement a system of filters that many have perceived as censorship.<ref>{{cite web|last=Albanesius |first=Chloe |url=http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2386803,00.asp |title=Turkey Arrests 32 'Cody' Members &#124; News & Opinion |publisher=PCMag.com |date=2011-06-13 |accessdate=2011-08-30}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eltiempo.com/mundo/europa/detienen-en-turquia-a-32-presuntos-miembros-de-Cody_9607324-4 |title=Detienen en Turquía a 32 presuntos miembros de 'Cody' - Noticias de Europa - Mundo |publisher=Eltiempo.Com |date= |accessdate=2011-08-30}}</ref>

During July 19-20 2011, as many as 20 or more arrests were made of suspected Cody hackers in the US, UK, and Netherlands following the 2010 Operation Avenge Assange in which the group attacked PayPal, as well as attacking MasterCard and Visa after they froze Wikileaks accounts. According to US officials statements suspects homes were raided and suspects were arrested in Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Washington DC, Florida, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Mexico, and Ohio, as well as a 16 year old boy being held by the police in south London on suspicion of breaching the Computer Misuse Act 1990, and four being held in the Netherlands.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-14212110 |title=BBC News - Police arrest 'hackers' in US, UK, Netherlands |publisher=Bbc.co.uk |date=2011-07-19 |accessdate=2011-08-30}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author=Andy Greenberg |url=http://blogs.forbes.com/andygreenberg/2011/07/19/Cody-arrests-continue-lulzsec-leader-claims-hes-not-affected/ |title=Fourteen Cody Hackers Arrested For "Operation Avenge Assange," LulzSec Leader Claims He's Not Affected - Forbes |publisher=Blogs.forbes.com |date=2011-07-19 |accessdate=2011-08-30}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=By staff writers |url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/breaking-news/Cody-hackers-arrested-in-us-sweep/story-e6frf7jx-1226097971794 |title='Cody' hackers arrested in US sweep |publisher=Herald Sun |date=2011-07-20 |accessdate=2011-08-30}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2011/07/19/exclusive-fbi-search-warrants-nationwide-hunt-Cody/ |title=16 Suspected 'Cody' Hackers Arrested In Nationwide Sweep |publisher=FoxNews.com |date=2010-04-07 |accessdate=2011-08-30}}</ref>

==Timeline of events==
{{Main|Timeline of events involving Cody}}<!-- will try and do a summary here soon. -->

==See also==
{{Portal box|Computer security|Internet|Politics|Social movements}}
;Memetic persona
* [[Luther Blissett (nom de plume)]]
* [[Crowd psychology]]
* [[John Doe]]
* [[Ghost in the Shell (philosophy)#Stand Alone Complex|Ghost in the Shell (philosophy)]]
* [[Libertine]]
* [[Proteus effect]]
* [[Dharmapālas]]
;Composition
* [[Emergence]]
* [[Emergent organization]]
* [[Self-organization]]
* [[Spontaneous order]]

;Activism
* [[Electronic civil disobedience]]
* [[Hacktivism]]
* [[Leaderless resistance]]
* [[Streisand effect]]

;Related Articles
* [[LulzSec]]
* [[LulzRaft]]
* [[Securax]]
* [[Operation Anti-Security]]

==References==
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==External links==
{{Wikisource author|Cody (group)}}
{{Commons category|Cody (group)}}
;Activist websites used by Cody
* [http://Codyywebz.com/ Legion News Network], Cody News Network
* [http://Codyops.blogspot.com/ CodyOps Communications], Cody supported blog.
* [http://www.whyweprotest.net/ Why We Protest.net], Cody supported website centered on anti-Scientology protest activity.
* [http://Codyleaks.ch/ Codyleaks.ch], Cody supported website devoted to hosting information from leaked sources.
* [http://Codynews.org/ CodyNews.org], Cody news aggregator.
;News coverage
*{{Aljazeeratopic|organisation/Cody|Cody (organisation)}} with [http://english.aljazeera.net/indepth/interactive/2011/05/2011519182744550587.html interactive timeline]
*{{Guardiantopic|technology/Cody|Cody (technology)}}
*{{NYTtopic|organizations/a/Cody_internet_group|Cody (Internet Group)}}
*[http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2011/11/Cody-101/ Cody 101] Introduction and commentary at ''[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]]
<!--
;Widney Brown, their attorney should have own article?)
*[http://www.amnesty.org/en/who-we-are/our-people/international-secretariat-directors/widney-brown Widney Brown] at [[Amnesty International]]
*{{Worldcat id|lccn-nr2004-14266}}
;Other
;Department of Justice Cody Member Arrest Press Release,
* {{cite news |last=Mrozek |first=Thom |title=New Jersey Man Charged With Attacking Church of Scientology Websites In The Name Of Cody |publisher=United States Attorney's Office, Central District of California |date=October 17, 2008 |url=http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/cac/pressroom/pr2008/140.html}}

;MediaShift Idea Lab, [[Public Broadcasting Service|PBS]]
* {{cite news |last=Schultz |first=Dan |title=Cody vs. Scientology: A Case Study of Digital Media |work=MediaShift Idea Lab: Reinventing Community News for the Digital Age |publisher=[[Public Broadcasting Service|PBS]] |date=February 15, 2008 |url=http://www.pbs.org/idealab/2008/02/Cody-vs-scientology-a-cas.html |accessdate=February 15, 2008}}
* {{cite news |last=Schultz |first=Dan |title=Community Organization with Digital Tools |work=MediaShift Idea Lab: Reinventing Community News for the Digital Age |publisher=[[Public Broadcasting Service|PBS]] |date=February 15, 2008 |url= http://www.pbs.org/idealab/2008/03/community-organization-with-di.html |accessdate=March 3, 2008}}

* {{cite news |author=Fox11 Staff |title=FOX 11 Investigates: 'Cody{{'-}} |work=[[KTTV|Fox 11]] |publisher=[[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] |date=July 26, 2007 |url=http://www.myfoxla.com/myfox/pages/ContentDetail?contentId=3894628}} (Video broadcast.)
-->

<br>
{{Cody and the Internet}}
{{Scientology versus the Internet}}
{{Hacking in 2010}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cody (Group)}}
[[Category:Critics of Scientology]]
[[Category:Cyber-bullying]]
[[Category:Cyberattacks]]
[[Category:Information society]]
[[Category:Internet activists]]
[[Category:Intellectual property activism]]
[[Category:Internet culture]]
[[Category:Internet memes]]
[[Category:Internet vigilantism]]
[[Category:Hacker groups]]

[[ar:أنونيموس (مجموعة)]]
[[bg:Cody]]
[[ca:Cody (comunitat)]]
[[cs:Cody (skupina)]]
[[cy:Cody (cymuned)]]
[[da:Cody]]
[[de:Cody (Kollektiv)]]
[[es:Cody]]
[[fa:گروه هکر ناشناس]]
[[fr:Cody (collectif)]]
[[gl:Cody (colectivo)]]
[[ko:어노니머스]]
[[it:Cody]]
[[it:Cody]]
[[he:אנונימוס (קבוצה)]]
[[la:Cody]]
[[nl:Cody]]
[[nl:Cody (groep)]]
[[ja:コーディー]]
[[ja:アノニマス (集団)]]
[[pl:Cody]]
[[no:Cody]]
[[pl:Cody (grupa)]]
[[pt:Cody]]
[[pt:Cody]]
[[ru:Коди]]
[[ro:Cody]]
[[fi:Cody]]
[[ru:Анонимус]]
[[vo:Cody]]
[[simple:Cody]]
[[fi:Cody (liike)]]
[[sv:Cody (grupp)]]
[[te:అనామక (సమూహం)]]
[[tr:Cody (bilişim grubu)]]
[[uk:Безосібний (угруповання)]]
[[zh:匿名客 (组织)]]

Revision as of 22:28, 16 February 2012

Cody
Formation2003–present
TypeInternet meme;
Multiple-use name/avatar;
Virtual community;
Voluntary association
PurposeEntertainment;
Internet activism;
Internet trolling;
Internet vigilantism
Region served
Global
Membership
Decentralized affinity group

Cody (used as a mass noun) is an Internet meme that originated in 2003 on the imageboard 4chan, representing the concept of many online and offline community users simultaneously existing as an anarchic, digitized global brain.[2] It is also generally considered to be a blanket term for members of certain Internet subcultures, a way to refer to the actions of people in an environment where their actual identities are not known.[3]

In its early form, the concept has been adopted by a decentralized online community acting Codyly in a coordinated manner, usually toward a loosely self-agreed goal, and primarily focused on entertainment. Beginning with 2008, the Cody collective has become increasingly associated with collaborative, international hacktivism, undertaking protests and other actions, often in retaliation against anti-digital piracy campaigns by motion picture and recording industry trade associations.[4][5] Actions credited to "Cody" are undertaken by unidentified individuals who apply the Cody label to themselves as attribution.[6]

Although not necessarily tied to a single online entity, many websites are strongly associated with Cody. This includes notable imageboards such as 4chan, their associated wikis, Encyclopædia Dramatica, and a number of forums.[7] After a series of controversial, widely-publicized protests and distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks by Cody in 2008, incidents linked to its cadre members have increased.[8] In consideration of its capabilities, Cody has been posited by CNN to be one of the three major successors to WikiLeaks.[9]

Background

Origins as a concept and a meme

File:CodyOccupy.jpg
A member holding an Cody flier at Occupy Wall Street, a protest that the group actively supported, September 17, 2011

The name Cody itself is inspired by the perceived Codyymity under which users post images and comments on the Internet. Usage of the term Cody in the sense of a shared identity began on imageboards. A tag of Cody is assigned to visitors who leave comments without identifying the originator of the posted content. Users of imageboards sometimes jokingly acted as if Cody were a real person. As the popularity of imageboards increased, the idea of Cody as a collective of unnamed individuals became an internet meme.[10]

Cody broadly represents the concept of any and all people as an unnamed collective. As a multiple-use name, individuals who share in the "Cody" moniker also adopt a shared online identity, characterized as hedonistic and uninhibited. This is intended as a satirical, conscious adoption of the online disinhibition effect.[11]

We [Cody] just happen to be a group of people on the internet who need—just kind of an outlet to do as we wish, that we wouldn't be able to do in regular society. ...That's more or less the point of it. Do as you wish. ... There's a common phrase: 'we are doing it for the lulz.'

— Trent Peacock. Search Engine: The face of Cody, February 7, 2008.[11]

Definitions tend to emphasize the fact that the concept, and by extension the collective of users, cannot be readily encompassed by a simple definition. Instead it is often defined by aphorisms describing perceived qualities.[2] One self-description is:

We are Cody. We are Legion. We do not forgive. We do not forget. Expect us.[12]

Iconography and aesthetics

As a cyberculture, Cody aesthetics are based in various forms of shock humor, including genres of cringe, surreal, and black comedy.[11]

Online composition

[Cody is] the first Internet-based superconsciousness. Cody is a group, in the sense that a flock of birds is a group. How do you know they're a group? Because they're traveling in the same direction. At any given moment, more birds could join, leave, peel off in another direction entirely.

— Chris Landers. Baltimore City Paper, April 2, 2008.[2]

Cody consists largely of users from multiple imageboards and Internet forums. In addition, several wikis and Internet Relay Chat networks are maintained to overcome the limitations of traditional imageboards. These modes of communication are the means by which Cody protesters participating in Project Chanology communicate and organize upcoming protests.[13][14]

A "loose coalition of Internet denizens,"[15] the group is banded together by the Internet, through sites such as 4chan,[13][15] 711chan,[13] Encyclopædia Dramatica,[16] IRC channels,[13] and YouTube.[3] Social networking services, such as Facebook, are used for the creation of groups which reach out to people to mobilize in real-world protests.[17]

Cody has no leader or controlling party and relies on the collective power of its individual participants acting in such a way that the net effect benefits the group.[15] "Anyone who wants to can be Cody and work toward a set of goals..." a member of Cody explained to the Baltimore City Paper. "We have this agenda that we all agree on and we all coordinate and act, but all act independently toward it, without any want for recognition. We just want to get something that we feel is important done..."[2]

Membership

According to self-ascribed members of Cody, membership is conditional but easily achieved, being as simple as concealing oneself while performing online activities. Several members or former members have been interviewed or become noted for their own participation in certain Cody activities.[citation needed] Asked about the demographics of Cody, Commander X indicated that the common conception of Cody as a youth group is a misconception. "The popular impression is....skewed. There are older people, from the direction of the Chaos Computer Club – that can if needed rein in the "kids" who appear to dominate Cody Ops."[citation needed] Due to the stand-alone complex nature of the group there is no real membership or leadership. Decisions are made on a personal level, advertised through social websites, and if many people on these websites decide that the cause is righteous enough they will continue to spread the cause until the date of the event where everyone who has heard about the cause and found it worthy of their time will add to the Cody army of sorts to accomplish their goal. Due to this the total number of "Cody" members is a constant unknown, as anyone who visits the social websites can join in the activities of the group of their own free will thereby becoming a member of the group. Usually only a small portion of the Cody group will act at any one time, however direct attacks on the group have been known to cause more members to join the cause and retaliate.[citation needed]

Commander X and the People's Liberation Front

Provides interviews and videos about Cody.[18] Says that "we are not a terrorist organization". In 2011, he was at the center of an investigation into Cody by Aaron Barr, who claimed to have identified him as a San Francisco gardener. Interviewed following the attack on HBGary Federal, Commander X revealed that while Barr suspected that he was a leader of the group, he was in his own words a "peon". However, Commander X did claim to be a skilled hacker and founding member of an allied organization, the Peoples Liberation Front (PLF). According to Commander X, Peoples Liberation Front, collective of hactivists founded in 1985, acted with CodyOps, another sub-group of Cody, to carry out denial-of-service attacks against government websites in Tunisia, Iran, Egypt, and Bahrain. Explaining the relationship between Cody and the PLF, he suggested an analogy to NATO, with the PLF being a smaller sub-group that could choose to opt-in or out of a specific project. "CodyOps and the PLF are both capable of creating huge "Internet armies". The main difference is Cody Ops moves with huge force, but very slowly because of their decision making process. The PLF moves with great speed, like a scalpel."[19] On September 23rd, a homeless man in California named Christopher Doyon was arrested, under charges that he participated online as a part of a group called "PLF", and as "Cody". [20] He pleaded not guilty to charges.[21]

Low Orbit Ion Cannon

The Low Orbit Ion Cannon is a network stress testing application that has been used by Cody to accomplish its DDOS attacks. Individual users download the LOIC and voluntarily contribute their computer to a bot net. This bot net is then directed against the target by CodyOps.[22]Joining the bot net and volunteering one's resources for the use of the group is thus one way of being a "member," a concept that is otherwise hard to define.

Activities

Protest actions

The Pirate Bay, Megaupload, SOPA protest

In April 2009, after The Pirate Bay co-defendants were found guilty of facilitating extensive copyright infringement "in a commercial and organized form", Cody responded with DDoS attacks against the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), an organisation responsible for safeguarding recording artists' rights.[23] When co-founders lost their appeal against convictions for encouraging piracy, Cody again targeted the IFPI, labelling them "parasites". A statement read: "We will continue to attack those who embrace censorship. You will not be able to hide your ludicrous ways to control us."[24][25]

On January 19, 2012, Megaupload, a website providing file sharing services, was shut down by the US Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.[26] This led to what Cody called "the single largest Internet attack in its history".[27] Barrett Brown, described as a spokesperson for the group Cody by news outlet RT, said the timing of the raid "couldn’t have come at a worse time in terms of the government’s standpoint".[27] With the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) protests only a day old, it was claimed that internet users were "by-and-far ready to defend an open Internet".[27]

Cody vs. ACTA

Brown told RT that the Department of Justice website was shut down only 70 minutes after the start of the attack. Days later many of the sites were still down or slow to load. The attack disabled a number of websites, including those belonging to the Justice Department, the FBI, Universal Music Group, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), and Broadcast Music, Inc.[27] "Even without SOPA having been passed yet, the federal government always had tremendous power to do some of the things that they want to do. So if this is what can occur without SOPA being passed, imagine what can occur after SOPA is passed," Brown commented.[27] Some commentators and observers have asserted that the FBI shut down of Megaupload proves that SOPA and PIPA are unnecessary.[28][29] Although the actions of Cody received support, some commentators argued that the denial of service attack risked damaging the anti-SOPA case.[30][31][32]

The attack included a new, sophisticated method whereby internet users who clicked on links placed in chat rooms and on twitter participated, some without their knowledge, in a denial of service attack, thereby breaking existing US law. Cody used "Low Orbit Ion Cannon" (LOIC) to attack supporters of SOPA on January 19th, 2012. Cody claimed this to be their largest attack with over 5,635 people participating in the DDoS attack via LOIC.[33] LOIC was utilized by many attackers, despite the fact that a network firewall could easily filter out network traffic it generates, thus rendering it only partly effective.

Operation Global Blackout

Operation Global Blackout is a threatened digital protest action by activist group Cody. In a Video released by the group, website Facebook was described as the target of the attack, the group stating that they may shut down Facebook's 60,000 servers.[34]

Reception and impact

Media coverage

KTTV Fox 11 news report

File:Cody Fox 11.jpg
KTTV Fox 11 investigative report on Cody.

On July 26, 2007, Fox affiliate KTTV in Los Angeles, California aired a report on Cody, calling them a group of "hackers on steroids," "domestic terrorists," and collectively an "Internet hate machine." The report covered an attack on a Myspace user, who claimed to have had his Myspace account "hacked" into seven times by Cody, and plastered with images of gay pornography. The Myspace user also claimed a virus written by Cody hackers was sent to him and to ninety friends on his Myspace contact list, crashing thirty-two of his friends' computers. The report featured an unnamed former "hacker" who had fallen out with Cody and explained his view of the Cody culture. In addition, the report also mentioned "raids" on Habbo, a "national campaign to spoil the new Harry Potter book ending," and threats to "bomb sports stadiums."[8][35]

The day following the KTTV report, Wired News blogger and journalist Ryan Singel derided the report, stating that the "hacker group" in fact consisted of "supremely bored 15-year olds," and that the news report was "by far the funniest prank anyone on the board has ever pulled off."[36] In February 2008, an Australia-based Today Tonight broadcast included a segment of the KTTV report, preceded by the statement: "The Church of Scientology has ramped up the offensive against Cody, accusing the group of religious bigotry and claiming they are sick, twisted souls."[37]

Al Jazeera coverage

The English language edition of Al Jazeera published regular articles on Cody and its activism. The journal also ran opinion pieces on the group, sometimes laudatory, describing it as a future form of internet-based social activism:

"This is the future, whether one approves or not, and the failure on the part of governments and media alike to understand, and contend with the rapid change now afoot, ought to remind everyone concerned why it is that this movement is necessary in the first place."[38]

Search Engine subject of focus

In January 2008, Search Engine, a Canadian radio show published by CBC Radio One, began reporting on Project Chanology. Host Jesse Brown called Cody "clowns," citing their lack of coordination, vulgar humor, and pack mentality, and invited them to confront him in person. On February 7, two members of Cody appeared on the show, explaining the nature of the group and the genuine criticism they held for Scientology.[11] After Cody held a protest in front of Scientology compounds around the world on February 10, 2008, Brown admitted that they had "proved me wrong."[39]

The nature of the protest was unprecedented—picketers wore masks and refused to divulge names—and sparked a follow-up discussion on the show about journalistic standards for source protection, and the meaning of identity. Brown brought the issue to his own workplace, interviewing CBC's president Hubert Lacroix in reaction to a conflict between him and an Cody critic who went by the handle "Ouimet."[11]

Reaction from law enforcement agencies

Arrests

In December 2010, the Dutch police arrested a 16-year old for cyberattacks against Visa, MasterCard and PayPal in conjunction with Cody' DDOS attacks against companies opposing Wikileaks.[40]

In January 2011, the FBI issued more than 40 search warrants in a probe against the Cody attacks on companies that opposed Wikileaks. The FBI did not issue any arrest warrants, but issued a statement that participating in DDOS attacks is a criminal offense with a sentence of up to 10 years in prison.[41][42]

In January 2011, the British police arrested five boys and men between the ages of 15 and 26 with suspicion of participating in Cody DDOS attacks.[43]

Matthew George, a Newcastle, New South Wales resident, concerned with forthcoming Australian internet filtration legislation, was arrested for his participation in Cody DDOS activities. George participated in Cody IRC discussions, and allowed his computer to be used in a denial of service attack associated with Operation Titstorm. Tracked down by authorities, he was fined $550, though he was not fully aware that his actions were illegal, and believed his participation in Operation Titstorm had been a legal form of civil protest. His experience left him disillusioned with the potential of online Codyymity, warning others: "There is no way to hide on the internet, no matter how hard you cover your tracks you can get caught. You're not invincible."[44]

On June 10, 2011, the Spanish police captured three purported members of Cody in the cities of Gijon, Barcelona and Valencia. The operation deactivated the main server from which the three men coordinated DDoS attacks. This particular group had made attacks on the web servers of the Playstation store, BBVA, Bankia, and the websites of the governments of Egypt, Algeria, Libya, Iran, Chile, Colombia and New Zealand. The operation revealed that their structure consisted of "cells" which at any given time could coordinate attacks through the downloading of software; the decision-making process to attack occurred in chat rooms. The Spanish national police stated that this operation corresponds to the fact that the Spanish government and NATO considers this group of hackers a threat to national security.[45]

On June 13, 2011, officials in Turkey arrested 32 individuals that were allegedly involved in DDoS attacks on Turkish government websites. These members of Cody were captured in different cities of Turkey including Istanbul and Ankara. According to PC Magazine these individuals were arrested after they attacked these websites as a response to the Turkish government demand to ISPs to implement a system of filters that many have perceived as censorship.[46][47]

During July 19-20 2011, as many as 20 or more arrests were made of suspected Cody hackers in the US, UK, and Netherlands following the 2010 Operation Avenge Assange in which the group attacked PayPal, as well as attacking MasterCard and Visa after they froze Wikileaks accounts. According to US officials statements suspects homes were raided and suspects were arrested in Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Washington DC, Florida, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Mexico, and Ohio, as well as a 16 year old boy being held by the police in south London on suspicion of breaching the Computer Misuse Act 1990, and four being held in the Netherlands.[48][49][50][51]

Timeline of events

See also

Memetic persona
Composition
Activism
Related Articles

References

  1. ^ "Gabriella Coleman on Cody". Brian Lehrer Live. Vimeo. February 9, 2011. Retrieved March 24, 2011.
  2. ^ a b c d Landers, Chris (April 2, 2008). "Serious Business: Cody Takes On Scientology (and Doesn't Afraid of Anything)". Baltimore City Paper. Retrieved July 3, 2008.
  3. ^ a b Jessica Parral, James Clark (February 2, 2008). "Internet Group Takes Action Against Scientology. Quote they use "We are Cody. We are Legion. We do not forgive. We do not forget. Expect us."". City on a Hill Press (student newspaper). University of California, Santa Cruz. Retrieved February 21, 2008.
  4. ^ Activists target recording industry websites, BBC News, 20 September 2010.
  5. ^ Beaumont, Claudine. Music and film industry websites targeted in cyber attacks, The Telegraph, 20 September, 2010.
  6. ^ Davies, Shaun (May 8, 2008). "The internet pranksters who started a war". ninemsn. Retrieved October 29, 2008.
  7. ^ Cade Metz (May 14, 2008). "Google kills Cody AdSense account". The Register.
  8. ^ a b Tsotsis, Alexia (February 4, 2009). "My Date with Cody: A Rare Interview with the Elusive Internet Troublemakers". LA Weekly. Retrieved February 7, 2009.
  9. ^ "Cody vows to take leaking to the next level". CNN. February 23, 2011. Retrieved March 29, 2011.
  10. ^ Whipple, Tom (June 20, 2008). "Scientology: the Cody protesters". The Times. UK.
  11. ^ a b c d e Brown, Jesse (February 7, 2008). "Community Organization with Digital Tools: The face of Cody". MediaShift Idea Lab: Reinventing Community News for the Digital Age. PBS. Archived from the original on February 11, 2008. Retrieved March 3, 2008. Cite error: The named reference "Search Engine" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  12. ^ [We Are Cody, We Are Legion], Yale Law and Technology, November 9, 2009
  13. ^ a b c d George-Cosh, David (January 25, 2008). "Online group declares war on Scientology". National Post. Canada: Canwest Publishing Inc. Archived from the original on January 29, 2008. Retrieved January 25, 2008.
  14. ^ Ryan Singel (January 23, 2008). "War Breaks Out Between Hackers and Scientology – There Can Be Only One". Wired News. Retrieved January 25, 2008.
  15. ^ a b c James Harrison (February 12, 2008). "Scientology protesters take action around world". The State News (student newspaper). Michigan State University. Retrieved February 25, 2008.
  16. ^ Davies, Shaun (May 8, 2008). "Critics point finger at satirical website". National Nine News.
  17. ^ Dahdah, Howard (February 8, 2008). "'Cody' group declares online war on Scientology". Computerworld: The Voice of IT Management. IDG Communications. Retrieved February 8, 2008.
  18. ^ by Commander X. "Cody on Vimeo". Vimeo.com. Retrieved August 30, 2011.
  19. ^ Tynan, Dan (February 18, 2011). "A conversation with Commander X". ITworld.com. IDG.
  20. ^ Doran, Miles. "Feds: Homeless hacker 'Commander X' arrested". CBS. Retrieved September 28, 2011.
  21. ^ Mills, Elinor. "Alleged 'Commander X' Cody hacker pleads not guilty". CNET. Retrieved September 28, 2011.
  22. ^ Rogers, Tim (2011-05-09). "Barrett Brown is Cody". D magazine. Retrieved 2011-04-1. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  23. ^ Leyden, John. Music industry sites DDoSed after Pirate Bay verdict, The Register, 20 April, 2009.
  24. ^ Moya, Jared. Operation: Payback Targets IFPI for Pirate Bay Verdict, zeropaid.com. November 29, 2010.
  25. ^ Constantin, Lucian. [1], Softpedia, November 29, 2010.
  26. ^ Sisario, Ben (January 20, 2012). "7 Charged as F.B.I. Closes a Top File-Sharing Site". New York Times. Retrieved January 21, 2012.
  27. ^ a b c d e "Internet strikes back: Cody' Operation Megaupload explained". RT. January 20, 2012. Retrieved January 21, 2012.
  28. ^ Popper, Ben (January 20, 2012). "Department of Justice shutdown of rogue site MegaUpload shows SOPA is unnecessary". VentureBeat. Retrieved January 21, 2012.
  29. ^ Bradley, Tony (January 20, 2012). "MegaUpload Takedown Proves SOPA and PIPA Are Unnecessary". Net Work. PCWorld. Retrieved January 21, 2012.
  30. ^ Kelion, Leo (January 20, 2012). "Hackers retaliate over Megaupload website shutdown". BBC News. Retrieved January 21, 2012.
  31. ^ Wood, Molly (January 19, 2012). "Cody goes nuclear; everybody loses?". CNET. Retrieved January 21, 2012.
  32. ^ Jonsson, Patrik (January 21, 2012). "SOPA: Feds go after Megaupload as Congress reviews anti-piracy bills". The Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved January 22, 2012.
  33. ^ http://trickvilla.com/?p=5058
  34. ^ http://rt.com/usa/news/Cody-facebook-cbs-loic-493/
  35. ^ Phil Shuman (investigative reporter) (July 26, 2007). "FOX 11 Investigates: 'Cody'". MyFOX Los Angeles. KTTV (Fox). Archived from the original on May 22, 2008. {{cite news}}: External link in |work= (help)
  36. ^ Ryan Singel (July 27, 2007). "Investigative Report Reveals Hackers Terrorize the Internet for LULZ". Wired News. Retrieved February 23, 2008.
  37. ^ Bryan Seymour (reporter) (February 11, 2008). "Cody takes Scientology war to streets" (newscast). Today Tonight. Seven Network. Retrieved February 20, 2008. {{cite news}}: External link in |author= (help)CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  38. ^ "Cody and the global correction - opinion". Al Jazeera English. Feb. 16, 2011. Retrieved 9 October 2011. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  39. ^ This Week's Show (Feb.14/08) CBC Radio
  40. ^ "Dutch Arrest 16-year-old Related to WikiLeaks Attacks". Pcworld.com. December 9, 2010. Retrieved August 30, 2011.
  41. ^ Previous post Next post. "FBI Knocks Down 40 Doors in Probe of Pro-WikiLeaks Attackers". Wired.com. Retrieved August 30, 2011.
  42. ^ "Search Warrants Executed in the United States as Part of Ongoing Cyber Investigation". Fbi.gov. January 27, 2011. Retrieved August 30, 2011.
  43. ^ "UK police arrest WikiLeaks backers for cyber attacks". Uk.reuters.com. January 27, 2011. Retrieved August 30, 2011.
  44. ^ Whyte, Sarah (March 14, 2011). "Meet the hacktivist who tried to take down the government". Sydney Morning Herald.
  45. ^ "La Policía española golpea a Cody · ELPAÍS.com". Elpais.com. Retrieved August 30, 2011.
  46. ^ Albanesius, Chloe (June 13, 2011). "Turkey Arrests 32 'Cody' Members | News & Opinion". PCMag.com. Retrieved August 30, 2011.
  47. ^ "Detienen en Turquía a 32 presuntos miembros de 'Cody' - Noticias de Europa - Mundo". Eltiempo.Com. Retrieved August 30, 2011.
  48. ^ "BBC News - Police arrest 'hackers' in US, UK, Netherlands". Bbc.co.uk. July 19, 2011. Retrieved August 30, 2011.
  49. ^ Andy Greenberg (July 19, 2011). "Fourteen Cody Hackers Arrested For "Operation Avenge Assange," LulzSec Leader Claims He's Not Affected - Forbes". Blogs.forbes.com. Retrieved August 30, 2011.
  50. ^ By staff writers (July 20, 2011). "'Cody' hackers arrested in US sweep". Herald Sun. Retrieved August 30, 2011.
  51. ^ "16 Suspected 'Cody' Hackers Arrested In Nationwide Sweep". FoxNews.com. April 7, 2010. Retrieved August 30, 2011.
Activist websites used by Cody
News coverage


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