Bizarre Anonymous ploy seeks John McAfee as Trump's cybersecurity adviser

Anonymous, a loose collective of hackers and internet activists, appears to have launched a campaign to get John McAfee appointed as a cybersecurity adviser to President-elect Donald Trump's new administration – in order to "change to the status quo of insecurity."

In a somewhat bizarre, fan-driven, call to arms, the website administrator has called for Anonymous to hold a demonstration for the cause at the New York City Trump Tower on 5 December. "We must unite regardless of political affiliation for an issue that affects us all," a statement reads.

"We ask that John McAfee be named the candidate to join Trump to start securing America from hackers!" it continues, negating the fact Anonymous has been responsible for countless attacks on government, police and private sector over the years.

In recent months, attention has turned to state-sponsored cyber threats. In the run-up to the 2016 presidential election, hacks and leaks took centre-stage after attacks against the Democratic National Committee (DNC) and the emails of Hillary Clinton aide John Podesta.

"Our nation is at risk for cyberwarfare," the statement adds. "Our corporations are at risk for cyber-espionage and digital crime. Our citizens are at risk for identity theft. Our kids are at risk [of] cyberbullying.

"Someone needs to raise the noise-level on all of this – and no one is better suited to be the White House cybersecurity czar than McAfee. Like him or not, McAfee [...] is going to force the action around cybersecurity while others in power simply shrug it off."

McAfee, who previously ran for presidency as a libertarian candidate, told IBTimes UK: "I've had hundreds of DMs [direct messages] over the past week saying I should head up cybersecurity and that they were going to lobby for it. I told each one I didn't want it. I wouldn't take the position if offered.

"The government is populated with dead wood, out-of-date thinkers, immovable bureaucracies and nepotism. I believe I can do more by working outside the system developing defensive tools that can at least keep our industries and private infrastructures alive."

McAfee has spoken out in the past about Anonymous' activities after it claimed to have hacked Donald Trump (which was not true). At the time, the computer expert said he was "conflicted" about its aggressive cyber-activities.

"Its core beliefs embrace personal privacy and freedom, which coincide with my own beliefs," he wrote in Business Insider earlier this year. "On the other hand, I cannot help feeling sympathy for Trump. I am fully aware of what Anonymous is capable of, and I fear that Trump is not."

The op-ed ended in McAfee offering his expertise to the Trump campaign. "To this end I am offering, freely and without constraint, my services [to help] design a cybersecurity platform that will, in the event of his election, help protect America when the cyberwar that lurks on our horizon becomes a reality," he wrote.