The hacker group Anonymous became famous for attacking the websites of major corporations and governments. But in recent weeks have given much to talk to their new targets. In Mexico threatened the bloodthirsty Los Zetas Cartel and although they had recanted, after receiving strong support in social networks continued their cartel operation and also attacked some 40 websites that are devoted to child pornography, the lay for a while and published information about 1,600 visitors from those sites.

This attack on pedophiles was apparently not an isolated, but only the beginning of a frontal war against them. Anonymous has published network addresses and information about 190 sex offenders who used pornography sites.

The operation was named # OpDarkNet or ‘shadowy networks operation.’ It’s an open secret that the Internet is a dark side, a sort of black market in which there is no law and the user who wants to be there has to cover their tracks and hide their identity very well. But there are also repressive governments like China and Iran, whose citizens have to use the same services that hide the identity of retaliations prevented the authorities.

For this there are services such as Tor, a hosting service for ‘darknets’, dark or secret networks, in which the movements and its users’ identities are undetectable. They have positive uses such as allowing freedom of access on the Internet to citizens of these repressive countries, but have not missed those unscrupulous beings that use them for nefarious purposes, such as child pornography.

Tor service was about to release a software upgrade for ‘darknets’ and it was expected that users download and activate it immediately to continue using the service. It was not known that Anonymous had inserted a code that allowed and trace user activity, so that they can identify pedophiles.

A note issued by the group explains their motives: “The sole purpose of #OpDarkNet was to reveal that a service like Tor Project is being ruined by the 1% of users, who used it to child pornography. The remaining 99% is made Chinese and Iranian journalists, intelligence agencies are fighting a secret war with Al-Qaeda and US, Anons who believe in the right to freedom of expression.”

Many media have questioned whether the war against pedophiles has become a new part of the values of Anonymous, but to see that statement does not seem to be the case. Rather they are trying to protect the integrity of a service that considered valuable to freedom of expression, but for their various attacks continue being considered as a cyberterrorist group from some sectors.

And the debate is still there, with many questions: How good is the existence of this group of hackers who devote themselves to attacking what they consider inappropriate? Who decides the targets? Is it a fair trial? What impacts do their attacks beyond appearing in the media? Are there any positive results?

Each one can have very different answers, but what most can agree is that any action against those who violate the rights of children, whatever their purpose is something to celebrate, although some security experts have stated that Anonymous actions could derail investigations against these networks of pedophiles.