Hacktivist

[Skyhawk]

I guess that this is a question to Rich and/or some of the senior admins on TFL.

With all of the hacks of major web sites in the news recently, are there any protective measures on TFL to limit access/damage from hackers?

I realize that a hack attack would probably be more of an annoyance or nuisance, rather than a threat, as very little “personal” information is available.

This may be of general interest to all.

Skyhawk

[DC]

The "hack attacks" publicized recently aren't really hacking in the true sense...i.e getting into the system and changing files, etc. They are system overloads...massive requests at one time that the server can't process.
The same thing happened last summer (legitimately) when the Encyclopedia Brittanica website announced that the Encyc would be free and available for download. Whammo, millions of people tried to download at one time and crashed it. Same thing happened a year before that when the US Geo survey site released all those Landstat satellite pics and you could go and look at your house. Too many requests crashed it for a few days.
The current "hackers" are using software that multiplies one request into thousands, thus overburdening the system...known as 'denial of service'.

So, not much can be done to protect a site that wants, needs, allows non-password access to view the site contents



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"Quis custodiet ipsos custodes" RKBA!

[Rich Lucibella]

What DC said.

Of course none of this has stopped Janet from declaring that she will be "cracking down" on internet hacking. Just what we need: "A War on Hackers", complete with midnight raids, property seizures and the like.
Rich

[DC]

The FBI is already whining about being hamstrung...
These types attacks are best traced during the act, but the quibbling detail of getting court orders is preventing the FBI from catching the hackers. Now Congress is talking about how vulnerable the very economy is to these attacks. Of course, once court restraints are removed it will be a socialist gov'ts dream...they can snoop on everyone, everyday...and you know they will....plus, taxes will be raised to pay for it!! Oh joy.

[Bud Helms]

Well, hell ... I feel safer already!

[bauldy]

If anyone is ummm... a little paranoid :eek: this site might help if you use Windows. Look at "Shields Up" http://grc.com/default.htm

Dave