The Gentleperson's Guide to Forum Spies

I am sure this is old news and it is really just common sense, but looking at some of the activity on WWP (and god ESMB) lately I find this interesting and worth a read as a refresher. Considering the scope of WWP and all that's going on in not just the world of Scientology, but in the world at large, I happened upon it, and on reading it I kept having the same thought throughout....

STAY ON TARGET

Here's the beginning:

It's worth a skim.



http://cryptome.org/2012/07/gent-forum-spies.htm

yes i have noticed it and if i have noticed it people in comas should notice it

How many people were shooped onto this photo:

206 whites and 34 aisians. Blacks were represented, though not included in the stats (per LRH.)

I hope you're not counting the confetti, it's fake!!! LRH said fake confetti should never be counted.

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What the hell, I'll bump it too.

I am sure this is old news and it is really just common sense, but looking at some of the activity on WWP (and god ESMB) lately I find this interesting and worth a read as a refresher. Considering the scope of WWP and all that's going on in not just the world of Scientology, but in the world at large, I happened upon it, and on reading it I kept having the same thought throughout....

STAY ON TARGET

Here's the beginning:

There are several techniques for the control and manipulation of a internet forum no matter what, or who is on it. We will go over each technique and demonstrate that only a minimal number of operatives can be used to eventually and effectively gain a control of a 'uncontrolled forum.'

Technique #1 - 'FORUM SLIDING'

If a very sensitive posting of a critical nature has been posted on a forum - it can be quickly removed from public view by 'forum sliding.' In this technique a number of unrelated posts are quietly prepositioned on the forum and allowed to 'age.' Each of these misdirectional forum postings can then be called upon at will to trigger a 'forum slide.' The second requirement is that several fake accounts exist, which can be called upon, to ensure that this technique is not exposed to the public. To trigger a 'forum slide' and 'flush' the critical post out of public view it is simply a matter of logging into each account both real and fake and then 'replying' to prepositined postings with a simple 1 or 2 line comment. This brings the unrelated postings to the top of the forum list, and the critical posting 'slides' down the front page, and quickly out of public view. Although it is difficult or impossible to censor the posting it is now lost in a sea of unrelated and unuseful postings. By this means it becomes effective to keep the readers of the forum reading unrelated and non-issue items.

It's worth a skim.



http://cryptome.org/2012/07/gent-forum-spies.htm

Yeah, I’m not getting the impression that the bots are anywhere near that level of sophistication. It may be that LRH tech prevents them from doing it better, but at present it is really fucking fail. Some notes:

- Bots consistently try to ack everything. It just makes them look really fucking stupid, and gives the community a troll to eat which has the effect of backfiring.
- Bots, in trying to avoid being tied to a specific account, are making use of guest posting. Ironically this has made them even more transparent.
- Forum sliding, even if the bots could make a decent attempt at it, is nullified by the alert system on WWP and by the ‘watched threads’ feature.
- Forum sliding, even if the bots could make a decent attempt at it, should prove ineffective within anon culture. The internet never forgets, as the saying goes, and this is certainly true of the WWP community. There are plenty of ‘hardcore’ WWP nuts who follow everything on WWP (almost obsessively) which, in combination with the general ability of the wider WWP community to recognise valuable threads, counteract any such attempts.

The link is definitely worth visiting though for the uninitiated.

OSAbots are transparent, full of fail and fun to play with, however, there are more forums (fora?) here than just Chanology--that may be of interest to more sophisticated trolls -- FOI being one that comes to mind first. I am not, by nature, a suspicious person, but I must say I am looking a lot harder at new members right now.

http://cryptome.org/2012/07/gent-forum-spies.htm

Erm…are you sure?

The AvS forum has the whole murderous cult thing going on, and thus resources are directed into diversions there. But is there any other group that would care enough about WWP to try…?

We get a lot of trolls (some quite clever and talented btw) but I don’t see what organisations would be investing the resources (other than the cult). Any topic that would garner such tactics (such as the recent NSA spying scandal) wouldn’t get the attention of the institutions capable of implementing such tactics – you think the US gov would target WWP over, say, the Guardian comment forums? I would think WWP would be too far down the radar on such issues. I would encourage people to read some of the Guardian threads where you can see some good examples of misinformation and diversionary tactics (which fail simply due to the mismatch in numbers).

Sure, WWP discusses a lot of issues. But I don’t see people coming here leaking dox or sharing inside information or anything like this that would get the attention of the big institutions on FOI issues. And, it should be emphasised, that quite a lot of people are really quite stupid and can come off as trolls/saboteurs.

This.

Alex Jones, Joe Mercola, Mike Adams, Peter Joseph Merola, and others have been pumping out tons of stupid crazy talk directed at high school/college aged people for years. Now, "everybody knows" some batshit idea is "common knowledge." They stumble into this forum, thinking we're on their wavelength due to the Guy Fawkes mask.

Firstly, if FBI cares enough about @KyAnonymous to break down his door and take his shit, they may throw some resources at fishing around here. They obviously spent a bit of time monitoring him, and a lot of resources to send a party van, men and guns to confiscate his electronics. And we aren't just talking about U. S. government, we have forums in other countries dealing with governments that are more fanatical and oppressive than ours. And I believe there are companies out there, like HBGary, who have been paid money to spin shit on the internet. It's useless and stupid, but if someone pays them to do it, they will.

It is obvious that NSA has made hunting down leaks a priority. It is also self evident that they do not have a basic understanding of Anonymous. I believe that they are trying to intimidate with shows of force like knocking down @KyAnonymous doors with guns. Who knows if their stupidity extends to WWP? I don't anymore.

Tl:dr I sure hope that our government isn't stupid enough to waste my tax dollars on trolling WWP, but they are stupid enough to waste my tax dollars fucking with KyAnonymous. And even if they aren't, other countries who are trying to cut off their citizen's access to the internet may be.

Nevertheless, even it you poopoo that stuff, still a good primer on trolling, even if the troll is just one dumbass nutbag.

Another thing: And I also wouldn't put it past them to try and disrupt or AT LEAST gather info on #OpJuly4 . It seems that even peaceful protests are targets nowadays.

WWP removes illegal shit on sight. On a slow day where the mods are smoking dope you might have a dumb idea on view for, what, a couple of hours tops?

There are heaps of other forums and IRC channels where such shit is not only allowed, but actively encouraged with the tools and instructions needed. It doesn’t really take that long to get the character of a forum or channel, and I really doubt the NSA are so fucking clueless they couldn’t spot the two hundred forums and channels more in need of their attention than WWP. They may have fuck loads of resources, but those resources are still finite and choices need to be made about where to invest them – and the smart money isn’t on WWP.

Now if the NSA really are clueless to the point where they are trying to run ops on WWP, then their internet IQ must be sufficiently low not be able to run those ops effectively. No?

Hmmmm..... unless YOU are FBI and are trying to throw me off.... hmmmmm

Srsly, that is what I thought until this latest round of stuff. I mean KyAnonymous? Really? I mean, Barrett Brown, okay, guy is a douche, but do you really think busting a do gooder kid in Kentucky showed good judgement on where to allocate your resources? We already know there was surveillance of OWS, and god knows that was a stupid waste of taxpayer dollars. Why is it a leap to think they would hang out here? Do you think they are ignoring OpJuly4?

You do have a point about their obvious unsophistication in all things Anonymous making them stand out like sore thumbs. Hard to argue with that. They, of all people, need to LURK MOAR.

Brown and Ky were targeted for being effective at what they did, Brown's project pm being a massive threat.

The idle discussion on WWP? Not so much.

Even better point. Maybe the best thing we can do is let them come lurk here and keep them entertained, just like we do OSA.....

I am sure this is old news and it is really just common sense, but looking at some of the activity on WWP (and god ESMB) lately I find this interesting and worth a read as a refresher. Considering the scope of WWP and all that's going on in not just the world of Scientology, but in the world at large, I happened upon it, and on reading it I kept having the same thought throughout....

STAY ON TARGET

Here's the beginning:

There are several techniques for the control and manipulation of a internet forum no matter what, or who is on it. We will go over each technique and demonstrate that only a minimal number of operatives can be used to eventually and effectively gain a control of a 'uncontrolled forum.'

Technique #1 - 'FORUM SLIDING'

If a very sensitive posting of a critical nature has been posted on a forum - it can be quickly removed from public view by 'forum sliding.' In this technique a number of unrelated posts are quietly prepositioned on the forum and allowed to 'age.' Each of these misdirectional forum postings can then be called upon at will to trigger a 'forum slide.' The second requirement is that several fake accounts exist, which can be called upon, to ensure that this technique is not exposed to the public. To trigger a 'forum slide' and 'flush' the critical post out of public view it is simply a matter of logging into each account both real and fake and then 'replying' to prepositined postings with a simple 1 or 2 line comment. This brings the unrelated postings to the top of the forum list, and the critical posting 'slides' down the front page, and quickly out of public view. Although it is difficult or impossible to censor the posting it is now lost in a sea of unrelated and unuseful postings. By this means it becomes effective to keep the readers of the forum reading unrelated and non-issue items.

It's worth a skim.

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You know what is really sad about all of this forum manipulation? It is that many of the people who read up on forum manipulation can, themselves, be manipulated using that very information against them. Sound weird? Let me explain.

When you read, and start trying to apply, this type of knowledge you have to make a few key assumptions. You have to assume that there is a troll or trolls proficient in this stuff. You have to assume that troll or trolls are trying apply at least some of these techniques. You have to assume that the manner and method in which said troll or trolls are carrying out their manipulation is at least sufficiently similar to your ‘knowledge’ to allow you to diagnose it.

These assumptions may seem reasonable, but there can be significant issue underlying them. You are now working from a fairly vague listing of methods that match the outcomes of phenomena that would you expect to occur on any normal forum with sufficient traffic. I’ll repeat that again. Normal actions and postings which are consistent with normal forum activity on a high-traffic site can strongly resemble the methods described in the Cryptome guide (ffs Hobson would qualify as a disinformationist per the criteria used). People put on this ‘hammer vision’ and then start seeing ‘nails’ all over the place. The paranoia and distrust can be worse than anything real forum manipulators could achieve.

Yes, there really are trolls out there that try to do this type of shit. But, what I’d like to know, how many people have falsely labelled postings as such when they weren’t (even if only in their minds)? And how many people erroneous judgements based on these types of mistaken judgements…?

They’ll follow it and gather info, but I doubt ‘they’ would do anything further. Imagine you are the gov or a gov contractor and you’re paid to identify potential sources for civil unrest. Would you target #OpJuly4? You do your analysis and threat levels and background context – what conclusion would you reach?

Assuming the people conducting the analysis aren’t fucking retards (and, let’s face it, they’re not) I’d expect them to conclude to leave it alone. Why? Think about what #OpJuly4 really is from the perspective of these types of analysts. It is an act that does absolutely fuck all, has no chance of doing anything other than fuck all, will allow a bunch of idealistic and angry self-styled ‘revolutionaries’ to get some of that anger out and feel like they actually accomplished some shit, etc. It is an event with no fucking threat – unless it gets targeted. The analysis, I would imagine, would go something like this: ‘if we get caught doing anything to disrupt the handing out of the constitution it will simply add fuel to a fire that is going out on its own’.

Definitely worth a read. Stickied.

Also as a note to users, don't be afraid to report a worthwhile thread and ask for it to be stickied for a certain period of time. This will help prevent forum sliding.

What is the AVs forum plox?

"Anonymous vs Scientology"

Omygosh. Thank you. lolol

Technique #3: Topic Dilution

Topic dilution is not only effective in forum sliding it is also very useful in keeping the forum readers on unrelated and non-productive issues. This is a critical and useful technique to cause a 'RESOURCE BURN.' By implementing continual and non-related postings that distract and disrupt (trolling ) the forum readers they are more effectively stopped from anything of any real productivity. If the intensity of gradual dilution is intense enough, the readers will effectively stop researching and simply slip into a 'gossip mode.' In this state they can be more easily misdirected away from facts towards uninformed conjecture and opinion. The less informed they are the more effective and easy it becomes to control the entire group in the direction that you would desire the group to go in. It must be stressed that a proper assessment of the psychological capabilities and levels of education is first determined of the group to determine at what level to 'drive in the wedge.' By being too far off topic too quickly it may trigger censorship by a forum moderator.

http://cryptome.org/2012/07/gent-forum-spies.htm

Agreed. We see waaaaay more OMG OSAOSAOSA than actual OSA. This is actually the power of trolls, as evidenced by any casual reading of ESMB. The WWP culture of trolling helps to inoculate against this, IMO.

I would LOVE to believe that, and used to, but recent history, the American government's increasing hysteria about terrorism, it's obsession with secrecy, added to the money thrown at Homeland Security has changed my opinion. I think they HAVE lost any common sense they had. Their coordinated surveillance and disruption tactics against OWS as one glaring example. FFS, homeland security shared their intelligence and their plans with the banks-- the same private, for-profit entities that were being protested AGAINST. I think this shows clearly that significant portions of our intelligence community have lost their moral bearings and their common sense. And now they have the money and the extended bandwidth that provides so that limited resources don't force them to make more rational choices.

http://www.inquisitr.com/460605/fbi...and-universities-to-crush-occupy-wall-street/

Compare OWS to #OpJuly4. #OpJuly4 is so fail in comparison that I doubt it would get interest.

Is there a way we can keep such an important thread as this #1 all the time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hey! It's not July 4 yet! You can't call it a fail until July 5.

While I’d love to be optimistic, have you seen the posts by folks promoting the event on WWP? Idealistic useless numnuts who wouldn’t know the difference between posting dox and naval graving.

I have seen this one on WWP-- I call it "the friendly fishing expedition." Sometimes it's naive sharing, sometimes.... methinks not.

Technique #4: Information Collection

Information collection is also a very effective method to determine the psychological level of the forum members, and to gather intelligence that can be used against them. In this technique in a light and positive environment a 'show you mine so me yours' posting is initiated. From the number of replies and the answers that are provided much statistical information can be gathered. An example is to post your 'favourite weapon' and then encourage other members of the forum to showcase what they have. In this matter it can be determined by reverse proration what percentage of the forum community owns a firearm, and or a illegal weapon. This same method can be used by posing as one of the form members and posting your favourite 'technique of operation.' From the replies various methods that the group utilizes can be studied and effective methods developed to stop them from their activities.

Loved the last one "What is your job" (can't remember the exact title.) Anons answered as they always do by being smartasses and trolling. lol, good times.

Technique #5 Anger Trolling

Statistically, there is always a percentage of the forum posters who are more inclined to violence. In order to determine who these individuals are, it is a requirement to present a image to the forum to deliberately incite a strong psychological reaction. From this the most violent in the group can be effectively singled out for reverse IP location and possibly local enforcement tracking. To accomplish this only requires posting a link to a video depicting a local police officer massively abusing his power against a very innocent individual. Statistically of the million or so police officers in America there is always one or two being caught abusing there powers and the taping of the activity can be then used for intelligence gathering purposes - without the requirement to 'stage' a fake abuse video. This method is extremely effective, and the more so the more abusive the video can be made to look. Sometimes it is useful to 'lead' the forum by replying to your own posting with your own statement of violent intent, and that you 'do not care what the authorities think!!' inflammation. By doing this and showing no fear it may be more effective in getting the more silent and self-disciplined violent intent members of the forum to slip and post their real intentions. This can be used later in a court of law during prosecution.

http://cryptome.org/2012/07/gent-forum-spies.htm

This website slides around all by itself, no outside assistance needed. Also, I heard this guy who works as a contractor for the government just handed over a fuckton of NSA documents to a couple of internationally renowned journalists in a leak that makes Julian Assange look like Barrett Brown by comparison. But anyway WWP is really really important and Anonymous is still teh awesomest.