Exactly, that calling card represents an idea. They said, "don't fuck with us". Sony did, and Sony won. This was inevitable. 

You guys all remember when Amazon and CC companies etc dropped support for Wikileaks? Anon DDoSed them for days. Those companies lost millions.

You really think Anon (someone claiming allegiance to anon) is not capable of this? Seriously? SERIOUSLY? 

See, I think it could very well be Anonymous that did this, but this argument is really weak. 

DDoS isn't hacking, it's far from it. It's downloading a file, getting behind a proxy, then choosing a file to use with Loic. 

Any idiot with broadband can DDoS 

Edit: Here, I just did half the work for any wannabe "hacker": http://sourceforge.net/projects/loic/ 

Yes, it's that easy 

1. Yes, I could see this. However, HOW IN THE WORLD would this benefit the hacker. Honestly. How does increasing unwarranted government seizure of computers and tapping phones help some guy hack? In fact, Anon is kind of a social network, like prison, where they learn each other's trade secrets etc. How would this benefit? More importantly, you imply that someone would leave that information to frame Anon. Unlikely, given the above. It is more likely that a person subscribing to Anon did it. There is no other reason for it.

2. It's not easy to fake. All files have "birthdates". They know exactly where and when they've appeared. The CIA can take a destroyed hard drive, and for ten thousand or so, restore every single bit on the drive. It is just not possible. If someone broke in your house and killed a family member, would you write a fake note signed by someone you don't like before you called the cops.

DDoSing isn't the point. My point is that Anon is out to get companies that impair personal freedoms and information. 

If Sony has been running this vulnerability since PSN's get-go, why has nobody done anything until now? Sony tread on freedoms. Anon responded.

There's no better motive than that. 

Sorry, I your "you don't think they are capable of this" after bringing up DDoSing Amazon confused me. I apologize 

Hackers aren't out to steal 100 million CC numbers.

They're out to steal 4-5 numbers discretely.

This was not a money-motivated action, this was an idealism-motivated action.

They certainly are capable, but it is a loosely controlled group that is an easy target for blame also.  Anon, which has claimed it's attacks before, isn't claiming this one which is very odd for a group that operates like traditional terrorist groups and claims anything they were involved in with pride.

Sorry, I can see how I miscommunicated there. I meant capable in an idealist kinda way, not a mechanical way. 

+ 1 internet for you for keeping a cool head.

If I hacked into Sony and exposed to 100+M credit card numbers and personal information, I wouldn't take time out of my day to get in touch with Anon and let them know.

Again you make the mistake of treating Anon like a cohesive group that knows everything the other is doing. On the other hand, you say they are loosely controlled. Your understanding of Anon is flawless, but your understanding of how they operate is contradictory to that. 

If they are loosely affiliated, how would others know far enough in advance to claim it???!?

Hackers rarely use the credit cards themselves. they sell them on the black market.

In which case, more is better.