On Sunday, March 8, International Women’s Day was celebrated worldwide, highlighting the achievements and contributions of women in society. While many showed their support for this important day, a popular feminist blog, Femsplain, faced a malicious cyberattack that aimed to silence its voice.
Amber Gordon, the founder of Femsplain, took to Twitter to share the news of the Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attack that targeted her website. This attack flooded the site with malicious web traffic, attempting to overwhelm it and bring it down. Gordon revealed that while the site had faced DDoS attacks in the past, this one was particularly severe, possibly due to it occurring on International Women’s Day.
Twitter user @Sarkeesian suggested that the attackers utilized the Low Orbit Ion Cannon (LOIC), a common tool for coordinating DDoS attacks, to disrupt Femsplain’s website. Despite the intentions of the attackers to silence the feminist blog, their actions backfired as Femsplain chose to turn the situation into an opportunity to raise awareness and garner media attention.
In response to the cyberattack, Femsplain utilized the incident to draw attention to the importance of providing a platform for women’s voices to be heard. Rather than succumbing to the attempted silencing, the blog leveraged the news of the attack to its advantage, attracting support from the media and the public.
Science blogger Phil Plait, also known as The Bad Astronomer, expressed his support for Femsplain, emphasizing the failure of the attackers in their attempt to silence the platform. The blog’s resilience was further highlighted by its successful crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter, where it raised over $30,000. This funding will contribute to ensuring that Femsplain continues to provide a space where diverse women’s voices are valued and amplified.
The incident not only showcased the strength and perseverance of Femsplain in the face of adversity but also shed light on the ongoing challenges that feminist voices often encounter in online spaces. By turning a negative situation into a rallying point for support and solidarity, Femsplain demonstrated the power of resilience and community in overcoming attempts to silence marginalized voices.
Ultimately, the DDoS attack on Femsplain served as a reminder of the importance of standing up against cyber threats and defending the right of all individuals, regardless of gender, to express themselves freely and without fear of retaliation. As the blog continues to thrive and grow, it stands as a testament to the enduring impact of feminist activism and the unwavering spirit of those who refuse to be silenced.