It is 2011, and the world is now open, interconnected. Anyone with internet access is now in a position to do any number of things in support of those who now seek to obtain the relative liberty that most of us have inherited due to the sacrifices made by those who came before us. Today, you have a choice; you can complain about the world's failures, or you can take immediate action to help correct them. We will even help you to do so.
At this very moment, a great number of Iranians are struggling against a corrupt and theocratic regime that lies to them, that holds them hostage to degenerate and irrational beliefs, that punishes women for their femininity, that crushes the natural aspirations of the young, and which subjects each individual to the whims of religious fundamentalism. Those among them who are now risking everything to weaken that regime need to know that those of us on the outside are looking in. They need our morale backing, our focused attention, our support. We can provide that. But we can also provide a variety of more substantial offerings, including a great many tools by which the Iranian revolutionaries may not only defend themselves from the state but also fight back against it. Take a bit of time to read the following and you will be equipped to join in this conflict - one in which life and death and victory hinges on information, just as every conflict does.
I have divided this into two sections. The first includes steps that you yourself may take, this very evening, by which to attack the online infrastructure of the criminal regime. The second includes tools that we have been distributing to Iranians (as well as Tunisians, Egyptians, and others who need them) for several months now but which must reach more of them. Note that you need not have any direct relationship with any Persian either in country or abroad to get these to them; you merely need take a few moments to locate some online venue where an Iranian may potentially see it, or even where it may be seen by those who can then get these tools to Iranians by any number of other means. This is not nearly as difficult as it may sound; simply put some thought into it. At the very least, these tools may in the process reach others living under similarly tyrannical regimes, as they should.
Also, for an explanation as to how such methods work and for examples of how anyone may assist others in fighting for their freedom, see my al-Jazeera article Anonymous and the Global Correction.
I should also note that citizens of Iran should NOT use TOR; the regime has long been using work-arounds by which to identify TOR users and will target those identified as employing it. I2P is probably the best option for Iranians (and is one of the best options available for anyone who is seeking to keep their communications safe from interception).
Online Warfare as Conducted from Abroad:
Anonymous press release on #OpIran, our campaign by which to assist the citizenry against the regime: http://bit.ly/...
Frequenly Asked Questions about #OpIran at irc.Anonops.ru, our main organizing platform for this campaign: http://bit.ly/...
Video announcing intent and charter of #OpIran: http://youtu.be/...
Starter guide for those who either wish to work with Anonymous or launch their own efforts against various dictatorships. This includes instructions on using the LOIC for use in DDOS attacks against propaganda and government websites, as well as getting on Anonymous' IRC network for the purposes of coordinating various campaigns: http://goo.gl/...
Tools for Those Combating Their Own Government:
You can use the link to this post in order to distribute these tools to Iranians or copy and paste the text to a particular venue.
Software "care package" for use by Iranians who wish to conceal their activities from government surveillance while also attacking websites used by secret police forces and other regime targets (includes instructions in Farsi):
http://www.peoplesliberationfront.org/...
Instructions on hiding one's USB key: http://cryptome.org/...
A long list of free software tools by which to conceal one's identity even in the face of government surveillance; obtain and compile information on government agents, secret police, and other regime-associated entities; present that information in a useful and actionable manner; conduct advanced investigations by which to identify and expose instances of corruption, brutality, and the like; organize dissidents into secure, effective cells by which to strike back at a given regime; distribute evidence of government wrongdoing to the international media as well as locals; and otherwise go about the business of revolution using the most effective and little-known techniques available: http://pastebin.com/...
Additional Notes
Anonymous has either pioneered or improved upon a variety of methods by which to fight corruption, tyranny, and assaults on freedom of information. If you wish to join us, the starter guide linked above (http://goo.gl/...) should be more than sufficient to instruct you on getting onto our IRC network, from which much of our work is carried out. Despite much disinformation to the contrary, one does not have to be a hacker or even technically proficient to join up with Anonymous in carrying out our mission; you need only have the desire to prompt fundamental change and protect the rights of all, as well as the discipline to actually do so (as opposed to spending one's time complaining about how change is impossible and otherwise making demonstrably untrue excuses as to why one chooses to do nothing). The ranks of Anonymous includes students, lawyers, doctors, activists of every sort, IT professionals, writers, journalists, blue-collar workers; we come from dozens of countries and hold differing views on any number of subjects while maintaining a common dedication to freedom and the duty to help others obtain that freedom. Many who once gave up on fighting for change due to the mediocrity of the political process or the difficulties of working within a system that is forever corrupted by the machinations of powerful interests and even simple inertia have had their dedication rekindled upon seeing what is now possible due to the radically different environment that the internet has brought about. It has only been fifteen years since the information age began to make its presence felt, and we are only beginning to explore what is now possible in a world in which any individual may now theoretically collaborate with any other individual on the planet. Anonymous is not in the business of fighting for justice simply for the sake of the fight; we are in the business of winning. Ask the folks at HBGary about that.
If, for some reason, you would prefer not to work under the auspices of Anonymous - or even if you do, but would like to coordinate your efforts on your own - consider consulting this guide on the launching and development of autonomous online entities. If you do so, the distributed think-tank Project PM will provide you with various forms of assistance; e-mail me at barriticus@gmail.com for more details.
Finally, remember that this is 2011, not 1987. What was possible in the past is no longer a reliable indicator of what is possible today. The internet has changed the nature of the game. Recognize this and proceed accordingly. And do not leave this work to others; it is yours as much as it is ours. Thank you.