Gene Simmons Now Wants To Throw 'Anonymous' In Jail

from the good-luck,-gene dept

A couple of weeks ago, Gene Simmons made one of his ridiculously misguided attacks on file sharers (he does it every few years). Despite the fact that KISS is a perfect example of a band that makes a ton of money from scarce goods that are made more valuable the more people are aware of their music, Simmons has this misguided notion that "suing everyone" is the right strategy. Of course, as we pointed out at the time, he's obviously bluffing, because he's had the opportunity to do so for years and he has not done so.

Either way, his antics caught the attention of the folks behind "Operation Payback," from the group Anonymous (an effort that I still think is equally misguided), and they took down Simmons' website with a DDoS attack (after an apparent dispute internally over whether or not Simmons should be a target).

Either way, it appears that the attack only sharpened the rhetoric from Simmons, in his standard speak-first-understand-later manner. He posted on his site that he was working with the FBI to "sue their pants off" for "hacking" his site:
Some of you may have heard a few popcorn farts re: our sites being threatened by hackers.

Our legal team and the FBI have been on the case and we have found a few, shall we say "adventurous" young people, who feel they are above the law.

And, as stated in my MIPCOM speech, we will sue their pants off.

First, they will be punished.

Second, they might find their little butts in jail, right next to someone who's been there for years and is looking for a new girl friend.

We will soon be printing their names and pictures.

We will find you.

You cannot hide.

Stay tuned
Well, good luck with that. It tends to be a lot harder to identify folks behind a DDoS attack than you might think. Also, I'm curious why the FBI even cares, but we've seen the FBI kowtow to celebrities in the past, so it's possible. Either way, all this has done, so far, is to get Anonymous back to taking down Simmons' website. My guess is that, just like his previous comments, this looks like Simmons as all-talk-and-no-action. But, the more he tries to become the latest version of Lars Ulrich, the more he's going to regret it.
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Filed Under: 4chan, anonymous, ddos, gene simmons


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  • icon
    thublihnk (profile), 18 Oct 2010 @ 12:03pm

    It's good to know the 'rebels' of yesteryear really do become the boring hard-assed dads of today.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      JEDIDIAH, 19 Oct 2010 @ 9:16am

      Gene is as crass as they get.

      This man was never a rebel. From the get-go he was all about the dolls and the comic books and the lunch boxes and the branded coffins. This guy should be in the dictionary under "corporate rock".

      Of course this makes the whole "sue the bastards" rhetoric of his all the more absurd. He's the posterboy for the techdirt music business model. He did it 40 years ago too.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    Shawn (profile), 18 Oct 2010 @ 12:39pm

    Hopefully the cyberpolice will help him backtrace this!

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    Jay (profile), 18 Oct 2010 @ 12:47pm

    You cannot stop the Anonymous Inquisition!

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 18 Oct 2010 @ 12:55pm

    Was Gene quoting Antoine Dodson?

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    Nina Paley (profile), 18 Oct 2010 @ 1:01pm

    We must destroy the fans in order to save them.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    Dark Helmet (profile), 18 Oct 2010 @ 1:04pm

    I'm fairly certain that the consequences will never be the same....

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 18 Oct 2010 @ 1:14pm

      Re:

      Consequences will henceforth be somewhat dissimilar!

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      Brian (profile), 18 Oct 2010 @ 1:31pm

      Re:

      Did he backtrace them?

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • icon
        TPBer (profile), 18 Oct 2010 @ 1:37pm

        Re: Re:

        He does not have a clue how to find those behind the attacks. Simmons should be charged for space on any sharing site that hosts his garbage.

        The attackers should flood his hosts server with all of the copies of Kiss trash on the net. That'll learn'm

        link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    Hephaestus (profile), 18 Oct 2010 @ 1:10pm

    Anonymous -vs- Simmons its like watching children fight ... to funny. Lets hope he keeps hazing them this is fun to watch.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 18 Oct 2010 @ 1:25pm

    Gene Simmons: Most Trollable Man in America

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 18 Oct 2010 @ 1:35pm

    Mike, if someone didn't like what you wrote (and there are quite a few that don't) would you like it if someone took Techdirt down? If they kept attacking your site, would you ask the authorities to do something about it?

    Have we reached a point where if we just don't like what someone says, we just silence them? I find that thinking quite sad.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 18 Oct 2010 @ 1:38pm

      Re:

      Silenced who?

      Judging by this article, Gene Simmons is still just as loud as ever. What's your definition of silence?

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      Chronno S. Trigger (profile), 18 Oct 2010 @ 1:40pm

      Re:

      Mike does not agree with the DDoS attack, he says so. He just also doesn't agree with what Gene Simmons said and may do ether. One person did something nasty, another did something nasty back. They both are wrong, just for different reasons.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      Mike Masnick (profile), 18 Oct 2010 @ 4:01pm

      Re:

      Mike, if someone didn't like what you wrote (and there are quite a few that don't) would you like it if someone took Techdirt down?

      Not at all. That's why I specifically and clearly stated I don't agree with the process of taking down the site. I just think that Simmons making bizarre claims he can't live up don't help the situation.

      Have we reached a point where if we just don't like what someone says, we just silence them? I find that thinking quite sad.

      Did I say that? No. I specifically said the DDoS attacks were dumb and a bad idea.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      abc gum, 18 Oct 2010 @ 5:27pm

      Re:

      "Have we reached a point where if we just don't like what someone says, we just silence them?"

      Why yes!
      That's what a take down notice of for, is it not ?

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 19 Oct 2010 @ 7:50pm

      Re:

      I am actually coming around to being ok with DDoS, it's really just like an online protest where there are enough protesters to stop people getting in and out of the building....

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    Chronno S. Trigger (profile), 18 Oct 2010 @ 1:37pm

    Jackass

    I always thought that the jail argument was a stupid one. It's a last, desperate threat of an asshole. He knows he can't do anything, he's just hoping to scare someone.

    I think I've asked this before; Is there really a group on 4chan called Anonymous? From what I see, they're not a group, but a bunch of people that happen to agree every now and then. No organization whatsoever, no official group. Granted, that may be the point.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Poster, 18 Oct 2010 @ 1:42pm

      Re: Jackass

      "Anonymous" is more of a stand-alone complex than an organized group.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 18 Oct 2010 @ 1:59pm

      Re: Jackass

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      Xander C (profile), 18 Oct 2010 @ 1:59pm

      Re: Jackass

      There's no group, only Anonymous. It is what you make of it, but sites like the "chans" do offer shelter to those who do not wished to be named.

      It's a pen name that is open for the public to use, that is both transparent and opaque. Anonymous is what you make of it and out of it. The people who do not understand it will make it into devils, and those who do see the redeeming value behind it.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 18 Oct 2010 @ 2:00pm

      Re: Jackass

      There is no group called "Anonymous". Posts to the website by default are "Anonymous" in the author field and threads disappear completely fairly quickly from the /b/ board. Referring to "Anonymous" or "Anon" as a real person is basically a joke.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      chris (profile), 19 Oct 2010 @ 7:40am

      Re: Jackass

      I think I've asked this before; Is there really a group on 4chan called Anonymous? From what I see, they're not a group, but a bunch of people that happen to agree every now and then.

      the problem with leaderless or distributed movements of any kind is that they are easy to setup and therefore easy to fake. anonymous might be a real force, or it might be a flag for people to wave when they do something and want it to look more impressive than it really is.

      it might also be a false-flag operation.

      the same could be said about various islamic and white supremacist movements.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    Ima Fish (profile), 18 Oct 2010 @ 1:39pm

    "It tends to be a lot harder to identify folks behind a DDoS attack than you might think."

    Gene is almost certainly a technological idiot. He probably did talk to some people from the FBI who likely promised to "do whatever we can" to bring these people to justice, i.e., absolutely nothing.

    Or maybe Gene will sue the innocent people who own the infected machines which were used as the basis of the attack.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Theoden, 18 Oct 2010 @ 1:56pm

      He is NOT a technological idiot. He has Penn Jillette tracking down the folks who haxored his Gibson RIGHT THIS VERY MINUTE!

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • icon
        Hephaestus (profile), 19 Oct 2010 @ 6:33am

        Re:

        "haxored his Gibson"

        LOL ... That brought an image to mind of Gene Simmons, with his face painted, sitting in front of an old Cray Supercomputer naked, eatting sushi, and flipping off to a never ending series of old groupie pics ...

        link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    cc (profile), 18 Oct 2010 @ 1:43pm

    There were rumours they made genesimmons.com redirect to TPB, though now it's just down.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    skyrider, 18 Oct 2010 @ 2:00pm

    Runaway

    I think that little 'spiders' would be a fitting end to his online presence.

    For those who don't catch the reference: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088024/

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 18 Oct 2010 @ 2:03pm

    To bad there is no GFBI(Global Bureau of Investigation).

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    Greevar (profile), 18 Oct 2010 @ 2:21pm

    Pfft!

    This sounds like some testicular puffery to me. He's just afraid of letting people think he's can't do anything but pound sand.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 18 Oct 2010 @ 2:37pm

    "Also, I'm curious why the FBI even cares, but we've seen the FBI kowtow to celebrities in the past,"

    Well, doing a DDOS is against the law, no? Maybe that is why the FBI should care?

    Being a jerk off isn't against the law, doing a DDOS is. Having a web site taken down isn't the same as calling someone a "whore" as in a previous article. Should Gene just turn the other cheek? Again, I doubt if Mike would appreciate someone taking down Techdirt. Would you as the authorities to do something about it?

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      vivaelamor (profile), 18 Oct 2010 @ 4:31pm

      Re:

      "Again, I doubt if Mike would appreciate someone taking down Techdirt. Would you as the authorities to do something about it?"

      I imagine the FBI would want Mike to first prove sufficient damages to warrant an investigation. Proving damages resulting from a DDoS attack on a blog would seem to be pretty much impossible. If it were me then I wouldn't bother contacting them and instead spend the energy on technical measures to limit the effect of the attack.

      I don't think it would be any easier for Gene to prove damages in this instance and would bet that if the FBI did get involved, they would do so because of his celebrity status rather than following actual procedure. The fact that a DDoS is against the law doesn't mean that the FBI should be wasting its resources on cases like this.

      I happen to think that DDoS is a dumb thing to do and don't agree with the usual justification that they are akin to real world peaceful protests. However, I also wouldn't advocate spending resources on tracking down real world protesters that go too far if they haven't done significant harm.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      TtfnJohn (profile), 18 Oct 2010 @ 4:57pm

      Re:

      As there do exist ways to protect a site from the worst effects of DDoS attacks themselves and are frequently very inexpensive to implement I'm wondering if his tongueness is as cheap as he is loud.

      Don't you think, Mr would be lawyer, that it's at least partly the responsibility of a site owner to protect themselves? Particularly is your name is Gene Simmons?

      And yes, it's a criminal offense but doesn't the FBI have better things to do like track down kidnapped and missing children and a host of other things than to stroke Simmons overblown loudmouthed ego?

      Now if the attack had compromised things like public health and safety, national security or something ACTUALLY important I'd say FBI have at 'er.

      As for Mike he's smart enough to have taken precautions, I'm sure.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    Tom Landry (profile), 18 Oct 2010 @ 2:41pm

    yes, Gene, you'll be the first to take 4chan down


    This idiot deserves everything that /b/ does to him

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 18 Oct 2010 @ 2:53pm

    He should call Prolexic for a better solution.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    gene simmons is homo, 18 Oct 2010 @ 3:43pm

    ya right

    and you gonna find this person(s) how exactly....oh and i'll add....same thing happened to SCO early on and i was asked to tell someone to stop.

    THIS time i am not. Gene simmons go fuck yourself you ugly goof.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 18 Oct 2010 @ 3:45pm

    @17

    yu forget the fbi is dropping missing childrens cases in favor of enforcing IP issues.

    THINK OF THE CHILDREN GENE ...SHUT THE FUCK UP

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Hotblack, 18 Oct 2010 @ 4:10pm

    Gene Simmons: Natural Born Entertainer.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    The Infamous Joe (profile), 18 Oct 2010 @ 4:26pm

    WTF?

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      The Infamous Joe (profile), 18 Oct 2010 @ 4:27pm

      Re: WTF?

      err.. damn enter key.

      So, lemme get the straight, Gene.

      Copyright infringement = bad

      DDOS attacks = bad

      Rape = okay?

      He just trolled the world.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 18 Oct 2010 @ 5:48pm

    Shouldn't we be more concerned with the fact that, in this day and age, someone can bring down a website simply by making "too many" requests to it?

    Neutralize this flaw, and a whole lot of headaches are gone. I wonder if it is possible.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 18 Oct 2010 @ 7:45pm

      Re:

      Picture this. You have a web server, a single yet powerful machine.

      On the other corner, you have Anonymous, with over 9000 machines.

      You cannot win. No matter how powerful your computers and network are, by combining enough machines and networks the other side can always have enough firepower to take you down.

      No matter how many computers and how much bandwidth you have, it is finite. Even with advanced firewalls, sheer volume can fill the pipes upstream of them.

      Of course, if your programming is deficient, your web servers untuned, and your pipes anemic, a single bored teenager with a domestic connection will be able to take it down. But even the largest web sites can get overloaded with unusually high traffic and fall down.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    netwrok, 18 Oct 2010 @ 5:57pm

    Who?

    Gene who? Is he some kind of piano player or something?

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    Rose M. Welch (profile), 18 Oct 2010 @ 7:46pm

    So Gene Simmons thinks that rape is an acceptable punishment? Huh. That's pretty damned horrible.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 18 Oct 2010 @ 8:02pm

    @44 then @49

    mike has nohting to fear its simmons like mouth pieces that spew utter retard statements...

    @49
    now think 900000 or 9 million machines
    now think about a single 4Kbyte packet per machine coming in.

    one per varied time frame
    say 1-30 seconds for ten minutes then a break for a hour per ip address

    you go ahead and ban 9 million ips
    there are 4.2 billion ips.....in 255^4
    why are we really running out of ipv4 addies

    go ask genes new friends the fbi
    funny how the anti law rockin roller needs the feds now eh gene girl....

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    Christopher (profile), 18 Oct 2010 @ 8:55pm

    Well, the FBI cares because Anonymous is breaking the law here, and federal law specifically. Yes, it is a CRIME to DDoS a site, no matter what site it is.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      JEDIDIAH, 19 Oct 2010 @ 9:21am

      No, the FBI doesn't really care.

      No. The FBI probably does not infact care here.

      They probably gave him some lip service and proceeded to promptly ignore him.

      In truth, this is a common thing. The cops quite often don't give a d*mn about your problems. Unless it fits into a narrow set of criteria, they are going to just ignore you. They might be honest enough with you about this, or not.

      This is why Big Content had to harras the Congress into forcing the FBI and the DOJ to pay attention to piracy.

      The guys in the FBI are much more interested in things that will enhance their careers rather than some loser glam rocker from the 70s and his website.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    Matt (profile), 18 Oct 2010 @ 11:08pm

    Sue them for what?....

    Forgive me if I'm being stupid but...
    How is sending a large amount of traffic to a website, to bring down the servers illegal? What could they be sued for, if they find who originated the attack?

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Nick Tann, 19 Oct 2010 @ 2:43am

    I'd like to sue...

    Gene Simmons for crimes against music....

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    Daemon_ZOGG (profile), 19 Oct 2010 @ 3:48am

    I think Gene Simmons and Richard Simmons are related...

    It just reminds me of whenever Richard Simmons would get bent out of shape on The David Letterman Show. Ranting and raving. Although, I have'nt witnessed Gene running around like a little school girl, yet. But, it's still early in the game, so you never know. ;P

    Kiss - A musical band who's time died a quarter centery ago.
    Gene Simmons - Crabby.. OLD.. Fart. }:P

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    rebrad (profile), 19 Oct 2010 @ 4:59am

    Check In at the Alzheimer Ward

    It's check-in time for Gene Simmons in the Alzheimer Ward. I hope 'Anonymous' shuts the fat f**k down. His time passed 30 years ago. Why dredge up old manure.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Michael, 19 Oct 2010 @ 5:08am

    He doesn't get it

    The thing is, there is no organisation called "anonymous" and it doesn't matter if a few people get thrown in jail. The rest of the people that follow the movement don't care what happens to the others... they are more likely to laugh about the fate of any that got busted than they are to give a damn. This guy just doesn't get it. The more he draws attention to it, the worse it gets. Its really not about anything but the lulz for 98% of these guys, and the more reaction, the more lulz...

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 19 Oct 2010 @ 8:00am

    The only one looking for a new girl friend is you Gene. Love these old rockers with way too much time on their hands. Sitting around imagining how much money they could have made. Too bad he has no real skills. A hobby maybe. Anything to keep him busy.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    Karl (profile), 19 Oct 2010 @ 9:13am

    Gene

    I'm Gene Simmons, I'm 12 years old and what is this?

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 19 Oct 2010 @ 9:41am

    Have you seen Gene's wife? Make fun all you want, but he is banging a Playmate of the Year and you are not.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 19 Oct 2010 @ 10:13am

    Considering Gene was popular in what, 1950? 1982 isn't too bad. Like you wouldn't?

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    Free Capitalist (profile), 19 Oct 2010 @ 11:09am

    Considering Gene was popular in what, 1950?

    Too early...
    1982

    Too late, LOL Geriatric Gene.

    Anonymous is amorphous. Anonymous is also faced with the same philosophical/practical conundrum as true, idealist Libertarians. Many who hook up would like to do some good, but being largely anarchistic (civil or not) don't truly give a rats ass about the system, and whomever does end up organizing activity often end up doing stupid shit.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    _Griphin_, 19 Oct 2010 @ 6:12pm

    Gene needs to pay his rent...

    why else would be sue the fans over copying his band's music?!? Ya know, too bad Gene doesn't do nice things with his money, like donate to food banks or donate money to some higher learning places like Universities.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    Jeremy2020 (profile), 20 Oct 2010 @ 11:55am

    It's bad idea to upset 4chan.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Noel Coward, 26 Oct 2010 @ 8:31pm

    Anonymous Hypocrisy

    Is it not interesting, that the so called protesters for free speech, as the first order of business, is to silence anyone they don't like?

    They despise the system which seeks order by censoring, yet they are HYPOCRITES of the first order, who use dis-order as the weapon of choice.

    These are the actions naive children. Only problem is, that they're not children! This collective only becomes what they despise, by using the same actions and methods that the system does, so are no better than they.

    I have a right to question authority, but not so the NEW BIG Brother of the internet censorship called Anonymous.

    Which is worse? As far as I can see, they're just the same.
    Both are faceless overbearing and throw their weight around.
    One is organized and has rules, the other has none and is anarchy.

    I know which one I prefer of the two.
    How about you?

    Honestly?

    If you want protest, be a man about it, not some coward!
    Hiding behind a mask is not being accountable, and not truly a protest by definition.

    I'll vote free speech, provided there is a caveat of responsibility attached to the terms.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    BabyD, 27 Oct 2010 @ 7:02pm

    vs

    This is gonna be great.Thank you Gene Simmons.Thank you.
    Someone make a flash cartoon with anon vs. the kiss army ....please?
    http://lulzimg.com/i8/840f58e2.jpg
    pic related

    link to this | view in chronology ]


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