Upon its release earlier this year, the android app Dog Wars sparked considerable controversy in the world of social media gaming. The application allows users to raise, train and eventually fight with virtual dogs. Pretty horrid, right?
Well, an unnamed hacker group thought so too and they decided to take action. After Google removed the game from the Android marketplace, its fans rushed to third-party providers to get their fix. The animal hacktivists at the heart of this phenomenon targeted the newly available version of Dog Wars and embedded a trojan virus into its code. The trojan invades the user's phone, sending out text messages to all the archived contacts saying, "I take pleasure in hurting small animals, just thought you should know that."
Since then, it's been made clear through forum posts and clandestine announcements that online animal cruelty won't be tolerated. Whether or not the action taken was "right," it's intriguing to watch the steady rise of hacktivism as an alternative to protesting or outright criminal activity.
Animal Hacktivism
Dog Wars is the First Victim of the Emerging Animal Rights Hacker Movement
Trend Themes
1. Animal Rights Hacktivism - An emerging trend of animal rights hacktivism is being fueled by the use of technology to combat animal cruelty, creating opportunities for the development of innovative security measures and products.
2. Third-party App Vulnerabilities - A trend of hacking and inserting malicious code into third-party apps is creating new opportunities for cybersecurity companies to develop innovative solutions that protect users from malware.
3. Alternative Forms of Activism - The rise of hacktivism is contributing to a growing trend of alternative forms of activism that challenge traditional methods of protesting, creating opportunities for businesses to develop innovative ways to engage with protesters and activists.
Industry Implications
1. Cybersecurity - The trend of inserting malicious code into third-party apps highlights the need for innovative cybersecurity solutions that can protect users from malware.
2. Gaming - The controversy surrounding the Dog Wars app highlights the need for innovative approaches to gaming that are more ethical and socially responsible.
3. Animal Welfare - The rise of animal rights hacktivism underscores the need for more innovative approaches to animal welfare that leverage technology to combat animal cruelty.