Off Topic: Broadband users please take note

Reg · Post by **Reg** » Sat Jun 09, 2001 4:20 am

The SPWaW fraternity seems to have a lot of broadband users so I thought I would post the following link as a community service. Please read and come to your own conclusions.
http://grc.com/dos/grcdos.htm

This post is off topic so please do not reply and create an irrelevant thread (though please feel free to bump it occasionally).

Thanks
Reg.

Warrior · Post by **Warrior** » Sat Jun 09, 2001 10:36 am

Many thanks, Reg! It's a long read, but well worth it. I've been familiar with Steve Gibson for quite awhile now, and because of his tools and recommendations have absolutely no worry that my machine could be vulnerable to attacks. (But I'm going to check for the evilbot anyway.) Your post may be off-subject, but it is a definite service to any member of the SPWaW community. Thanks again.

MagicBoy · Post by **MagicBoy** » Sat Jun 09, 2001 10:39 am

Yes, I saw a link to that the other day at the Gone Gold Forums and read the whole article. I must say that it was quite an interesting read and rather frightful at the same time. I'm amazed at the skill of some of these people. Praise be that I'm already using ZoneAlarm.

nyarlathotep · Post by **nyarlathotep** » Sat Jun 09, 2001 1:37 pm

Sheesh!

BlackIce goodbye!

Warrior · Post by **Warrior** » Sat Jun 09, 2001 5:41 pm

Although broadband users are the preferred targets, any computer user should be concerned.

Del · Post by **Del** » Sat Jun 09, 2001 6:57 pm

Yes, an interesting article. My Norton firewall blocks outbound sub seven trojans occaisionally. It has also blocked the rare inbound communitcations to the trojan. If you have a cable connection and do not have some kind of firewall get something IMMEDIATELY!!!! I procratinated about a week and ended up with one of these bots on my computer. Getting the firewall has crippled it so it is usless but I still cannot find it.

Nemesis · Post by **Nemesis** » Sun Jun 10, 2001 1:14 am

That's interesting stuff! I have always wanted to learn about that kind of things (No, I aint no cracker or script-kiddie, but I'm interested professionally).

Oh well, another good reason to use Linux

[ June 09, 2001: Message edited by: Nemesis ]

Warrior · Post by **Warrior** » Sun Jun 10, 2001 4:52 pm

What I found so scary is that an outsider could take control of my machine and use it for attacks on others. I DO NOT want the FBI knocking on MY door thinking I'm the one responsible because some cyber-criminal was able to pirate my computer.

Nemesis · Post by **Nemesis** » Sun Jun 10, 2001 11:07 pm

Originally posted by REMF:
What I found so scary is that an outsider could take control of my machine and use it for attacks on others. I DO NOT want the FBI knocking on MY door thinking I'm the one responsible because some cyber-criminal was able to pirate my computer.

Well, I would think that authorities know how DoS attacks are carried out, so you wouldn't be accused of anything. If anything, you were the victim (along with the target of the attack).

And besides, if the cracker (there's a difference between hacker and a cracker) launches DoS-attack, he will propably use all the computers he can get, but NOT his own! At least, if he's smart.

Warrior · Post by **Warrior** » Mon Jun 11, 2001 6:11 pm

One last bump from me.

Stukadawg · Post by **Stukadawg** » Mon Jun 11, 2001 7:21 pm

Thank you for posting this.
I always figured that nobody would be interested in hacking into my computer.
I'd say to friends, "What are they going to do? Erase my saves? Change my scores? Read my dumb-ass lyrics?"
As it ends up they can do much worse to undeserving companies using my computer as an attack platform.
As anyone with a conscience would say, "I want no part of it."
But what can we do?
I'm going to take everyone of Steve Gibson's suggestions or perhaps just spend more time outside with my pup.
My hopes are for the security of our computers, just for the sake of our innocent enjoyment.
Sincerely and quite sobered,
\_STUKADAWG_/

Nemesis · Post by **Nemesis** » Mon Jun 11, 2001 9:02 pm

Originally posted by Stukadawg:
Thank you for posting this.
I always figured that nobody would be interested in hacking into my computer.\_STUKADAWG_/

You'd be surprised! I got a personal firewall on my computer about a week ago. And after that, it has registered over half a dozen "suspisious" activities! Well, most of those were propably related to Gnutella/Bearshare, so it's OK. But there has been couple of things that I haven't been able to explain. Luckily, my firewall automatically tracks down where those hack-attempts originated, so that if something happens, I have hard evidence regarding the source of the attack!

When I get my Linux online, I should be safe. I'll build a firewall/router from a obsolete computer, so I should be safe then.