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Julian Assange: hero or villain?

Individual cybersecurity is important. Hacking into another person’s computer system and stealing sensitive information is regarded as not only morally wrong but also illegal. But what about when information is stolen from corporations and governments which reveal shady dealings and illicit activities? Do two wrongs make a right? Is it morally valiant to uncover the sins of authorities even when the means of revealing that information involves hacking into cybersecurity systems?

Julian Assange is a figure who invites this debate with the utterance of his very name. To his supporters, he is a campaigner for uncovering truths. Those who oppose him claim he endangers lives by making sensitive information public.

He is known for his skills at cracking secure computer codes. His company Wikileaks is infamous for publishing confidential documents including those relating to US activities during the Afghanistan War. He is currently receiving political asylum in the Ecuadorian embassy in London. He has been there since 2012 with the knowledge that he will be arrested once he leaves.

The Australian has a long history of hacking into security systems. In 1995 he was accused of and pleaded guilty to breaking into virtual private networks. He was saved a prison sentence due to his promise that he would not re-offend. So from the perspective of a computer security expert, Assange is a serial offender who is a danger to any person or entity that wants to keep their data secure. He and his group have in the past hacked into US defence institutions including the Pentagon and the Navy. Other targets of his group, the International Subversives, include Citibank, Motorola, Panasonic and NASA. From this history, it is clear that all corporations, banking institutions and government agencies should be concerned about Assange. With him around, no sensitive information can be truly safe. No matter how safe a system may be, Wikileaks may still find a way to bypass the safety walls and steal/leak confidential documents and data. 

On the other hand, Assange is known for his interest and support of ethics and justice. Every act that Wikileaks performs is based on a code of morality. The company seeks to expose dark secrets and crimes committed by entities which see themselves as untouchable.

With the advent of “fake news”, Wikileaks seeks to expose the truth by publishing primary sources. It is a non-profit organisation that treats the anonymity and safety of their whistleblowers and staff as one of their primary goals. 

The philosophy, drive and ethics of the organisation all come from their founder, Julian Assange. He has primary control over what information is leaked to the public. 

Thanks to Assange, the public has become aware of activities that would otherwise have remained secret. These include:

1. The CIA’s ability to hack into smartphones and televisions

This information is useful for security experts as they can seek to protect against government spying. 

2. Smart cars can now be hacked into and used for assassination attempts

Again this information allows cybersecurity agencies to become aware of the dangers of hacking and take measures to prevent them. 

3. Unarmed civilians and journalists were murdered by US attack helicopters in Iraq

This leak, aided by Chelsea Manning, could be seen by some as a danger to national security. However, it brought to light war crimes that would never have been made public otherwise.

4. Peruvian politicians were directly involved in the 2008 Peru Oil Scandal

Wikileaks exposure of political corruption is one of the main reason for its support by the public. The organisation makes public officials accountable for their action and prevents them from secret illicit activities. 

The question of whether Assange is good or bad for society is a subjective one. The answer is based on an individual’s own sense of morality. Of course, Wikileaks has brought many crimes to the light. However, to do so the company employs tactics that threaten all computer users who want their data to remain safe. It is not a government body but an organisation that releases confidential documents that Assange feels deserves leaking based on his own sense of individual morality.

The most worrying thing about the rise of Assange as a public folk hero is the knowledge of just how vulnerable computing systems are. In order to protect your data, it is essential to work with a cybersecurity professional like 1stCallDetectives.

At 1stCallDetectives, we have developed a new encryption certificate on our site. This is because we value customer privacy, security and discretion. All customers deserve the right to privacy which is why we have focused on developing such strong encryption features.

Our numerous detective agency services include: people tracking to help find missing persons, polygraph testing, audio verification, covert surveillance, matrimonial service, accident investigation and vehicle tracking.

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