I happen to agree, if only because; when script kiddies don't have IRC to play with they'll start looking elsewhere. I'd rather them have an IRC net to play with while they're being hunted. Wouldn't you?
-----Original Message----- From: Scott Francis [mailto:darkuncle@darkuncle.net] Sent: Wednesday, July 11, 2001 7:24 PM To: Richard A. Steenbergen Cc: Ariel Biener; nanog@merit.edu Subject: Re: DDoS attacks
On Wed, Jul 11, 2001 at 07:40:45PM -0400, Richard A. Steenbergen exclaimed:
Hrm you may have an idea there. Since so many attacks are related to EFNet, and there are so many possible reasons for it to be impacting the rest of the internet, I propose we introduce a new ICMP type, ICMP EFNet. This message type could be used to convey all kinds of important information about why things are broken, for example:
ICMP EFNet code 1 - Smurfing ICMP EFNet code 2 - SYN Flooding ICMP EFNet code 3 - Channel takeover ICMP EFNet code 4 - Warring botnets ICMP EFNet code 5 - Dianora
and many other useful messages.
regardless of one's opinion on the usefulness/validity/point of IRC, I think some respect is due EFnet simply considering the antiquity of the network, and the sheer volume of communication, good bad and indifferent, that has flowed over it since its inception. I'm sure I'll be flamed for my (mis)use of 'antiquity', but I think IRC has been, and continues to be, a valuable communication tool. Like any useful tool, it tends to be used for both beneficial and nefarious purposes.
And let's not forget that any network attack, regardless of the target or purpose, is a Bad Thing and responsible netizens should do their part to help eliminate such abuses.
I'm done preaching now; I'm sure those who agree with me didn't need a rehash, and those that don't are unlikely to change their minds. Just wanted to provide a counterpoint to the "since $service has no business function and doesn't increase profits, there's no point in supporting it" crowd.
(not that RAS is necessarily in that crowd; he just happened to be the first to respond.)
Sometimes things are worth doing, even if doing them causes you some grief. I'm sure cynicism will eventually overwhelm me and I will realize that there's no point in sticking one's neck/network out to provide a useful service to the community.
okay, I'm ready for the flames now.
-- Richard A Steenbergen <ras@e-gerbil.net> http://www.e-gerbil.net/ras PGP Key ID: 0x138EA177 (67 29 D7 BC E8 18 3E DA B2 46 B3 D8 14 36 FE B6)
-- Scott Francis darkuncle@ [home:] d a r k u n c l e . n e t Systems/Network Manager sfrancis@ [work:] t o n o s . c o m UNIX | IP networks | security | sysadmin | caffeine | BOFH | general geekery GPG public key 0xCB33CCA7 illum oportet crescere me autem minui