11 hours attack of antismokings on prosmoking websites

Published on April 22nd, 2008 10:51

Recently was published an article relating that 2 pro-smoking websites has been attacked supposedly by anti-smoking groups. The British organization Freedom2Choose and Forces International' websites were redirected the NHS Smokefree site during 11 hours.

As freedom2Choose webmaster Steven Cross said, redirection appeared to have been caused by a DNS poisoning attack.

"One hour after the attack we received a phone call about what was happening, but there was not much we could do since it was not our server that had been attacked," he explained.

Vice chairman of same website, Andy Davis, said that it appears that their site has annoyed someone high up - it seems they don't want the truth to get out. This affirmation was stated with no irony.

Both sites claimed that this attack is an attempt to block their activity, because as both groups say scientific claims about effects of passive smoking are a simple whopper.

"Five out of six studies show second-hand smoke to be entirely harmless," says Davis.

Freedom2Choose is a volunteer organization consisting of 85 members who pay £10 to join.

Forces International also expressed their view regarding this problem.

"To redirect our UK visitors to an anti-smoking website shows that the anti-smoking movement must be very nervous about the information our pro-freedom groups provide. Domain names are sacred on the free-spirited information super highway - we trust that those responsible for this serious violation will be identified and held accountable," Forces International President Stephanie Stahl said.