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DDoS for Fun and Profit
First there's the Microsoft worm, reported earlier, which in addition to all the other damage has apparently knocked Microsoft's Windows XP activation servers (and Bank of America ATMs) off the net. Then we've got a report about the ongoing demise of DALnet, perhaps not the way we expected it to go. And Canada discovers a risk of online voting.
This is from HardOCP.com:
It's 2:20 CST and I'm trying to activate a copy of XP. I need to, because this repair/upgrade (changed mb, disk controller, video, hdisk, NIC, RAM, USB revision, CPU, etc) I can't logon without activation.
Except, I CAN'T ACTIVATE. I am told there is no way ANY copy of XP can be activated in the next 5 hours because of (drum roll)
** Routine maintenance **. I mean, I asked: I said
"You don't have some little stand-alone machine that reads a DVD database so you could stand in line and do it?"
"You don't have a couple hundred "last resort" number ranges? You can call me back tomorrow!!!"
"There's not some guy you can go ask? Ya can't call Bill at home?"
So, I gotta stop my project for some unknown length of time. Good thing I'm not updating a medical drug interaction database, or an available transplant database, or a process flow control system or a hazardous atmosphere measurement system or a BUNCH of other possibilities. In my case, either I miss the superbowl, or my car dealer can't find and order Volvo cars on Monday. Life will continue.
But, I'm still seriously pissed. Call 'em at 888-571-2048 and try for activation.
And let's think about the true meaning of the fact you can't release liability for the consequential damage resulting from negligence. I mean, I have NEVER heard about "routine maintenance" on the 24.7.365 activation promise...
Well, on to the next job...
Heh, looks like it took out a big portion of Bank of America's ATM (cash) machines!
Link
I can't believe that BoA has their ATM's on the internet -- anyone know more about how it got to their ATM network?
You know how it is if you hire somebody *else* to paint your house? There is usually a heckuva lotta stuff you would have done differently because its *your* house.
But if you paint the house yourself, it takes a heck of a lot longer than you dreamed, but it's done right - to your exact satisfaction. You know everything about it - and if anything goes wrong, you know exactly how to fix it.
There's a big different between *yours* and *someone-else's*.
I feel the same about OS.
If its really not all that important, I will go with whatever gets the job done quickest.
But, if my life or reputation depend upon it, I need to be secure in my knowledge that I know exactly what I am doing - for it is I and I alone which must take responsibility for the outcome.
I think a lot of it is like choosing rope - if you are a shopkeeper, you may choose a rope based on its markup and profit potential, but if you are a mountain climber, you probably choose rope based on a completely different criteria.
"Prove all things; hold fast that which is good." [KJV: I Thessalonians 5:21]
and in addition to needing to piss and shit like crazy, I just became too paranoid to go to the bathroom.
That set me thinking -- windows XP activation is 30 days, right ? If you don't activate, what happens in 30 days ? It demands you activate or it locks up.
How many people when installing or starting up a new computer for the first time ignore the activation because they've got to try it out right now ? A lot. What day was 30 days ago ? December 25th. What day probably features more people opening up new computers than any other ?
Perhaps they didn't try to attack the activation servers specifically, but simply thought of bringing down the net to stop the wave of Jan 25th activations, and got the activation servers as a lucky bonus.