What is a DDoS attack?
A Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attack is a cybercrime that aims to render a target server unavailable. It involves overwhelming the server with excessive internet traffic, causing it to be unable to handle legitimate requests. This renders the server unusable.
Who are the attackers?
AO3 revealed through a tweet that the attackers are a collective known as “Anonymous Sudan,” comprised of religiously and politically motivated hackers. However, cybersecurity experts believe that the group may not be affiliated with Sudan at all and could be a Russian hacking gang disguising their actions. The group claims responsibility for the attack but its affiliation and motives remain uncertain.
Security experts suggest that the original Anonymous Sudan collective emerged during Sudan’s political instability in 2019 and was anti-Russia. However, the current iteration aligns with Russia and is posing as the Sudanese Islamist gang.
Anonymous Sudan justified the attack on AO3 by criticizing the content on the website, citing it as “against all forms of degeneracy” and containing “disgusting smuts” and LGBTQ+ and NSFW material.
Initially, the group announced a 24-hour attack and is now demanding a $30,000 ransom in Bitcoin. They have threatened to continue targeting AO3 for weeks if their demands are not met. However, AO3, as a non-profit organization, relies solely on contributions and operates with volunteers.
AO3 has made it clear that they do not support anti-Muslim sentiments. They continue to work on mitigating the DDoS attacks.
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What is AO3?
Archive of Our Own (AO3) is currently the most popular website for fan-created content. It serves as a non-profit online archive for user-contributed fanworks, particularly fanfiction. Established by the Organization of Transformative Works, AO3 hosts an extensive collection of over 11,050,000 works across various fandoms.
AO3 is renowned for its user-friendly interface and a tagging system that allows users to filter works according to their preferences. It upholds a policy of “maximum inclusiveness” and permits the publication of any legal work, even controversial or taboo topics. Users argue that AO3 provides a safe space for creative expression.
In 2013, Times listed AO3 as one of the 50 best websites, describing it as “the most carefully curated, sanely organized, easily browsable and searchable nonprofit collection of fan fiction on the Web.” It also received a Hugo Award for Best Related Work in 2019.
