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Thread ID: 57518 2005-05-05 02:08:00 Epic Tale of DDoS Extortionist vs Net Whiz Kid vinref (6194) PC World Chat
Post ID Timestamp Content User
352180 2005-05-05 02:08:00 Here's a rolicking blow-by-blow account (www.csoonline.com) of how a on-line betting site, with the help of a self-taught, dyslexic net whizkid, beat off a 10,000 bot DDoS attack and even tracked down the Russian perpetrator and had him arrested. Some very interesting facts about DDoS attacks, victims and legal issues involved in on-line extortion.

Although the internet is an amazing piece of logistics and co-operation that seems to work spectacularly well, anyone can enter without a "WOF" for their PC. Therein lies a problem, as this article shows - they can be harvested as zombies for DDoS attacks and other vandalism and criminal activities.
vinref (6194)
352181 2005-05-05 02:40:00 Excellent story thanks vinref. mark c (247)
352182 2005-05-05 03:18:00 Rollicking doesn't begin to describe it. The story is an epic or 'War and Peace' proportions.
Great read though - thanks for the link.
andrew93 (249)
352183 2005-05-05 05:06:00 Makes me wonder if a certain degree of filtering shouldn't be applied by ISPs to customers.

If the customer suddenly maxes out bandwidth to a site and other customers are doing the same, then:
-> filter those packets out (i.e. don't send them on)
-> send the customers involved e-mails explaining how and what to do to clean their machines.
-> make a note in the customer's record.
-> at three (or five, or whatever) notes, call the customer and walk them through the process of cleaning up their machine.


Of course, that will never happen because there's no incentive for the ISPs to do that (except maybe the first step).
Rugrats (6953)
352184 2005-05-05 08:24:00 Great link! Very absorbing read. pine-o-cleen (2955)
352185 2005-05-05 08:29:00 I'm guessing there is a Hollywood producer right now hiring a script writer ... ;) Jen (38)
352186 2005-05-05 08:58:00 This is the sort of good yarn I had in mind with this thread............ Why no IT TV Program. (pressf1.pcworld.co.nz). Make great TV. Make it as tech as it is and don't worry about frightening off the audience. Get a couple of spunks, (the guy sounds like he already looks like a movie star). Waving palms in Costa Rica. Shady dim light hackers in eastern europe, pounding into a keyboard. Lots of graphics. Be a hoot! mark c (247)
352187 2005-05-05 13:27:00 I'm guessing there is a Hollywood producer right now hiring a script writer ... ;)

That wouldn't be too far off. There was a description of Barrett Lyon in there that went something like: "He was tanned and handsome, and he looked like he just took the afternoon off from surfing...".
vinref (6194)
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