Last "Lost" post for a while

and of course by "a while", I mean until ep2 airs.

On the web based version of the show (the ARG as it's called) during season 2, we learned that the Hanso Foundation had become overrun with corrupt businessmen. Some of whom were even convicted criminals. Toward the end of the ARG in the summer break between seasons 2 & 3, we found out that Alvar Hanso had been taken captive. In Season 3 we found out that Ben, along with the people who were to become "the others", killed the dharma initiative members using some sort of gas attack. In the promos for episode 2 of season 4, we find out that the people from the freighter have brought gas masks with them to the island.
I'm wondering these people somehow aware of what Ben did and decided to pack a few extra things along as a precaution.