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Ohio Cracker Confesses to Attacks For Hire

Ritalin16 writes "An Ohio computer hacker recently pled guilty to carrying out crippling denial-of-service attacks on a shady internet hosting company's competitors. From the article: 'In a deal with prosecutors, Richard "Krashed" Roby, 20, pleaded guilty in federal court in Toledo last month to intentionally damaging a protected computer, after launching a 2003 attack on an online satellite TV retailer that caused at least $120,000 in losses.'" Another article indicating an openness on the international stage to cracking for cash.

163 comments

  1. Finally by Ritalin16 · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I know Richard Roby, and it's good to see he's finally getting what he deserves. He's attacked my IRC Network a lot. He's also famous for bringing down mIRCx.com.

    --
    In soviet Russia, Linux compiles YOU!
    1. Re:Finally by tabkey12 · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Still, it's quite sad that someone would spend their time taking down other people's servers, in order that a third party makes money, and then go to jail. Personally, it's hard to really see how people can end up in that situation. As far as I am concerned, the person who ordered the hits, Jay Echouafni should be in jail and the hacker should get help to find something more worthwhile to do with his time.

    2. Re:Finally by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Why did he attack your irc network?

      Were you bad mouthing him? You maybe thought there
      would be no reprecussions for making fun of someone?

      What caused it all? Be honest. You probably called his girl friend a fat aol broad.

    3. Re:Finally by Ritalin16 · · Score: 2, Insightful

      No, Richard is ruthless. If you knew him like I do, you'd know he belongs behind bars. He ddoses anything that moves.

      --
      In soviet Russia, Linux compiles YOU!
    4. Re:Finally by tabkey12 · · Score: 1

      Well, something better to do with his time, or possibly psychiatric help...

    5. Re:Finally by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Insightful

      And if someone insults my sister it's ok for me to slit his throat, right?

    6. Re:Finally by jcr · · Score: 4, Insightful

      the hacker should get help to find something more worthwhile to do with his time.

      IMNSHO, cooling his heels in prison is a much more worthwhile use of his time than what he was doing on the outside.

      -jcr

      --
      The only title of honor that a tyrant can grant is "Enemy of the State."
    7. Re:Finally by LurkerXXX · · Score: 0, Offtopic

      So Mafia bosses should go to jail, while their thug enforcers who fit folks with cement shoes should just get help to find something more worthwhile to do eh? Sorry, you carry out illegal orders like that and you should go to jail.

    8. Re:Finally by martinX · · Score: 2, Informative

      "...get help to find something more worthwhile to do with his time."

      ??

      How much help do you need to teach you not to be an arsehole? If you haven't learned through the usual persuasive techniques by the age of 20, then a spell in the big house might be a much needed wakeup call.

      --
      When they came for the communists, I said "He's next door. Take him away. Goddam commies."
    9. Re:Finally by JourneyExpertApe · · Score: 2, Insightful

      As far as I am concerned, the person who ordered the hits, Jay Echouafni should be in jail and the hacker should get help to find something more worthwhile to do with his time.

      So, should an amateur boxer who beats the crap out of people for a living not be charged with aggravated assault because he was doing it for money? I agree that the person who ordered the hits should do time, but I also think the guy who carried out the orders should too.

      --
      If you can read this sig, you're too close.
    10. Re:Finally by fishnuts · · Score: 2, Interesting

      I agree. I run an EFNet IRC server, and have observed him attacking people and servers just because someone stepped up to or disagreed with him, or simply just to get his way. He has no conscience or empathy whatsoever.

    11. Re:Finally by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Them's fightin' words!

    12. Re:Finally by Oligonicella · · Score: 1

      It's not sad, it's damn malicious. Why the hell was this post modded insightful? Causing harm to others at someone's request is just friggin' sad ? Pathetic.

    13. Re:Finally by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yeah, because in prison he learns how to be a real bad guy and he will learn how to use his time to commit even worse crimes than he did before he went in.

    14. Re:Finally by jcr · · Score: 0

      in prison he learns how to be a real bad guy

      It's far more likely that what he'll learn in prison is how to do what he's told, immediately, lest he be beaten unconscious.

      -jcr

      --
      The only title of honor that a tyrant can grant is "Enemy of the State."
    15. Re:Finally by NDPTAL85 · · Score: 1

      Why are you defending this guy and going light on him as if he has some sort of a mental illness? He's a technological hitman, plain and simple.

      --
      Mac OS X and Windows XP working side by side to fight back the night.
  2. Foonet by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    The ISP involved is CIT, aka foonet. Here's a link (google cache to information regarding the takedown.

    1. Re:Foonet by Gorath99 · · Score: 4, Informative

      Here's another interesting one. The guy who paid for the attacks is one of the FBI's most wanted and is to be considered armed and dangerous.

    2. Re:Foonet by nxtw · · Score: 1

      And here's a site full of pictures and other information about Foonet.

    3. Re:Foonet by dcraigw · · Score: 1

      Shortly after the Foonet incident discussed in the parent's link, I visited the address believed to be the Foonet datacenter (5407 Taylor Lane Ave, Hilliard, OH 43026) and took a few pictures. So check out the possible datacenter. The yard had been mowed recently, and the car in the driveway was for sale, but it didn't look like anyone was living there at the time.

    4. Re:Foonet by joel.smith · · Score: 1

      Don't get too excited, these documents are old and out of date. A lot has changed over the past couple of years.

      GigeServers.com previously known as Creative Internet Techniques and/or "FooNet" is, and has been, under a new ownership since they opened backup a little over a year ago.

      They are now owned by ColoQuest, a very reputable, professional company.

      Being a long-time customer of this company (and a previous customer of "FooNet"/CIT), and knowing the upper management of this company, it is definitely a great establishment, that offers the best techonology the industry has to offer. All this has been overshadowed by its gloomy past.

      As for Krashed, I am glad to see him go. For so long he has ran rampant upon the Internet creating havoc for many people, including myself.

  3. Who you callin' a cracker? by moofdaddy · · Score: 5, Funny

    Ohio Cracker Confesses to Attacks For Hire

    Man, why do we have to bring race into this?

    --
    Be better in bed. Wikiafterdark!
    1. Re:Who you callin' a cracker? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That's the first thing I thought also. I was once in a bar with an Ohio Cracker, Ohio Nigger, and a Ohio Towel-head...

    2. Re:Who you callin' a cracker? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      +5 and a gold star - that's just hilarious. :)

    3. Re:Who you callin' a cracker? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      We as a people need to take the power away from that word.

      See how stupid that sounds?

  4. I Must Point Out... by spdt · · Score: 5, Insightful

    This is neither hacking, nor is it cracking. This is just filthy DoSsing.

    1. Re:I Must Point Out... by BeesTea · · Score: 5, Interesting

      The cracking is implied. DDoS nodes don't grow on trees. Well, not literally at least.

      --
      2b2b2b415448300d
    2. Re:I Must Point Out... by m50d · · Score: 5, Funny

      No, but you can buy them wholesale if you know the right people.

      --
      I am trolling
    3. Re:I Must Point Out... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

      And if you read the article, this is one of "the right people" -- that not just used botnets but formed them by cracking Windows boxes.

    4. Re:I Must Point Out... by ElVaquero · · Score: 1

      Well I'm sure the guy is pretty white at least.

    5. Re:I Must Point Out... by Seumas · · Score: 1

      I didn't read it that way, anyway. When I read "Ohio Cracker", I first read it with the connotation of "cracker" as in "I just stepped on 50-Cent's shoes and he's insulting my white ass before the beatdown comes".

    6. Re:I Must Point Out... by WilliamSChips · · Score: 1
      I am a sexually reproducing sig. like a fscking script?
      I'm pretty sure it's more like a fscking sig.
      --
      Please, for the good of Humanity, vote Obama.
    7. Re:I Must Point Out... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I have your FSCKING SCRIPT right here!!
      #
      # checkfs.sh Check all filesystems.
      #
      # Version: @(#)checkfs 2.85-13 22-Mar-2004 miquels@cistron.nl
      #

      FSCKFIX=no
      [ -f /etc/default/rcS ] && . /etc/default/rcS

      #
      # Check the rest of the file systems.
      #
      if [ ! -f /fastboot ]
      then
        if [ -f /forcefsck ]
        then
          force="-f"
        else
          force=""
        fi
        if [ "$FSCKFIX" = yes ]
        then
          fix="-y"
        else
          fix="-a"
        fi
        spinner="-C"
        case "$TERM" in
          dumb|network|unknown|"") spinner="" ;;
        esac
        [ `uname -m` = s390 ] && spinner="" # This should go away
        echo "Checking all file systems..."
        fsck $spinner -R -A $fix $force
        if [ $? -gt 1 ]
        then
          echo
          echo "fsck failed. Please repair manually."
          echo
          echo "CONTROL-D will exit from this shell and continue system startup."
          echo
          # Start a single user shell on the console /sbin/sulogin $CONSOLE
        fi
      fi
      rm -f /fastboot /forcefsck

      : exit 0

    8. Re:I Must Point Out... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      DoSsing:
      see cracking

      Cracking:
      see black-hat hacking

    9. Re:I Must Point Out... by m50d · · Score: 1

      The second half is from my old sig, I followed the instructions in someone's sexually reproducing sig.

      --
      I am trolling
  5. If you think this is corrupt for satellite people by suitepotato · · Score: 5, Interesting

    you should see how they do things in the field business. I've done repair jobs on more dish installations than I could count which were monkeywrenched by a competing service when they did a prior add-on or upgrade and did everything they could to badmouth and undercut the prior guy and then farked up the work they did and blamed it on that poor sap.

    The satellite biz is loaded with huckesters, scammers, and just plain bad people from suppliers to installers to servicers. This doesn't surprise me at all. When you have people selling RG-11 jumpers as "Monster Satellite Coax Cable", when you have $2.36 diplexors being sold as "Super High Tech Satellite Splitters" for $32.95+ and $3 roof tar sealant being sold as "Hi-Tech Satellite Waterproofing" for $20 a tube, you know the woods are thick with people whose ethics are not just questionable, but gone entirely.

    The things I've seen in satellite work... They make cable companies look like emissaries of Heaven and the phone company like Knights of the Round Table.

    --
    If my grammar and spelling are off, I am [distracted/tired/careless] (take your pick)
  6. Cracking and crack the same, these days... by Hao+Wu · · Score: 0
    To crack code is the exact same thing as lighting a crack pipe. Where has legal system run amuck?

    The answer: it may surprize you.

    --
    I suggest you read Slashdot
  7. Finally... by DourSalmon · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Hackers, crackers, and even the lowly DOSers no longer have to pretend that they are malevolent killers, but now can pretend that they are hitmen. There's a distinction there that lends itself well to delusional self-image and far too much RPGing. (Lawful evil folks often have more interesting campaigns than chaotic evil.)

    --

    I have little to say, but even less to lose by saying it.

  8. They should definitely be treated harshly by ShatteredDream · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Attacking companies' online presence and preventing them doing business is only a step away from being as bad as smashing a store's windows in and tossing a stink/smoke bomb in and clearing the store out for an entire day while the workers clean up. If they were to destroy all of the databases, corrupt the server settings and destroy the web applications, it would be almost as bad as throwing a pipe bomb in through the window at night after everyone is gone. This is no more honorable than hiring the mafia to "protect you" from competitors.

    1. Re:They should definitely be treated harshly by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      This is the same side of the coin as /dot's frequent tirade against intellectual propery rights and patent protection. Information can and must be ownable and its the owner's right to determine the conditions underwhich it can be used. If that right does not exist, then there is nothing wrong with the actions of the so called cracker. You can't have it both ways.

    2. Re:They should definitely be treated harshly by m50d · · Score: 4, Insightful

      It's worse than that. The Mafia will, by and large, do what you're paying them for - stop anyone else trying to do what they're doing. If you pay off one DDOSer there's nothing that stops another one coming around next week.

      --
      I am trolling
    3. Re:They should definitely be treated harshly by The+Angry+Artist · · Score: 1

      One could also argue that this is the same as hiring a hitman, except the results are temporary. It's not like the mafia, because the mafia is an association, and it looks like this Echouafni guy just hired some random people.

      --
      If you're reading this, stop it.
    4. Re:They should definitely be treated harshly by InfiniteWisdom · · Score: 1

      Most people aren't arguing against the right to own information, but the DRM measures the companies are taking that deny you fair use.

    5. Re:They should definitely be treated harshly by E8086 · · Score: 3, Insightful

      "Attacking companies' online presence and preventing them doing business is only a step away from being as bad as smashing a store's windows in and tossing a stink/smoke bomb in and clearing the store out for an entire day while the workers clean up."

      I'd consider it closer to blocking the store's enterance preventing customers from entering. If someone were to do that I wonder what the penalty could be, but it might be more than 18-24mo and monetary fines for any local laws, blocking doors is a fire code violation, blocking the sidewalk should be another, the barracade could be considered littering, maybe someone can fit in disturbing the peace.

      It's about time the real weight of these "digital" crimes is considered. Yes, the statutory fines for an unauthorized copy of an audio or video file is up to $250,000 and a few years in prison, but that mp3 file on some kid's computer they got with some p2p program isn't worth $250,000, maybe 99c if it's available from a legal download service or a new or used CD if you can find it. A copy of a Hollywood movie it worth the price of a new copy on DVD. And the RITA (recording Industry Trust of America) abuses the laws designed to take down people reselling bootlegs for profit, not giving it away.

      Then there are these people who are hired to take out someone's competition. They're nothing more than hitmen and extortionists, pay up or we'll take out your site. These things cost real companies lots of money, lost sales, lost reputation, customer thinks the site/company may not be very reliable, lost man hours trying to repair the damage. And then they're only looking at 18-24mo or less with good behavior/parole.
      They're no longer doing drive-bys in upgraded Model Ts with Thompsons, but the concept is similar.

      --
      F7 doesn't work, ignore spelling and grammar
    6. Re:They should definitely be treated harshly by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Ownership includes the right to control use or its not ownership.

    7. Re:They should definitely be treated harshly by InfiniteWisdom · · Score: 2, Informative

      It doesn't give you absolute rights. When you license content, you as a consumer have certain rights too. That's precisely why copyright law has fair use provisions that prohibit copyright owners from denying licensees certain rights, and the media companies are circumventing those protections with technological measures.

    8. Re:They should definitely be treated harshly by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The owner gets to set the terms of use or its not ownership. If you use it outside of those terms, you have stolen his property. You can't have it both ways no matter how much you want it.

      You don't get to decide what is "fair". You get to decide to buy and pay or not. The other alternative is to be a thug and take it on your own terms and not those of the owner.

      Are you an honest and honorable person or a thug? There is no middle ground here.

    9. Re:They should definitely be treated harshly by InfiniteWisdom · · Score: 1

      I suggest you google the term "fair use"

  9. Where is the proof by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Interesting

    Why are unsubstantiated claims rated "Interesting"?

    He probably did you what say, but without proof these claims are nothing more than the ravings of a gossiper.

    Where is the beef, sir?

    1. Re:Where is the proof by bigman2003 · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Are you kidding?

      If every claim on Slashdot had to be substantiated, and proven...we'd all sit around doing research, and creating bibliographies.

      This isn't a peer-reviewed publication. We don't need to prove anything.

      Especially to an anonymous coward.

      (By the way- I know that AC. And his mom sleeps with anonymous men she meets in chat rooms.)

      --
      No reason to lie.
    2. Re:Where is the proof by m50d · · Score: 0, Redundant
      He probably did you what say, but without proof these claims are nothing more than the ravings of a gossiper.

      Isn't gossip popular *because* it's interesting? Informative would be a moderation to complain about.

      --
      I am trolling
    3. Re:Where is the proof by Ritalin16 · · Score: 1

      Troll. Do your own research, google is avalible to you, do a search on "Richard Roby".

      --
      In soviet Russia, Linux compiles YOU!
    4. Re:Where is the proof by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yes, I can confirm that.

    5. Re:Where is the proof by secolactico · · Score: 1

      Notice how it was rated "interesting" and not "informative". The mods obviously found it interesting, which is going to be a subjective rating no matter what.

      --
      No sig
    6. Re:Where is the proof by secolactico · · Score: 2, Funny

      Troll. Do your own research, google is avalible to you, do a search on "Richard Roby"

      Ok... let's see: http://cbs.sportsline.com/collegebasketball/player s/playerpage/525076

      Whoa! I hope this incident doesn't intefere with his NBA draft!

      --
      No sig
    7. Re:Where is the proof by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      (By the way- I know that AC. And his mom sleeps with anonymous men she meets in chat rooms.)
      That's all well and good, but would you at least cite your source?!

      *ducks*

    8. Re:Where is the proof by Ritalin16 · · Score: 1

      My bad. Google Richard Krashed Roby. Not Richard Roby.

      --
      In soviet Russia, Linux compiles YOU!
    9. Re:Where is the proof by Gentlewhisper · · Score: 1

      >>>That's all well and good, but would you at least cite your source?!

      Why certainly, I happen to be that anonymous man!

    10. Re:Where is the proof by PunkOfLinux · · Score: 1

      You're not anonymous any more!!

    11. Re:Where is the proof by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      (By the way- I know that AC. And his mom sleeps with anonymous men she meets in chat rooms.)
      DAD?
  10. Stopping this altogether by failedlogic · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Practices of DDos'ing servers is upsetting. It disrupts the generally shared used of the Net among the community of users. Equally upsetting (in this case), is the fact you can practically put a competing small business out of business by participating in this type of conduct.

    As a somewhat techie, I know that packets can be dropped from their "origin" but someone surely incurs a cost (either in implementing this feature) or having to deal with the packets anyways e.g. bandwidth costs ... (while other servers would not). Is there anything that is being implemented to eliminate DDOS attacks altogether?

    1. Re:Stopping this altogether by davidu · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Yeah, fixing windows and or firewalling the shit out of it.

      It's no longer a matter of stopping spoofed source addresses, people DoS with massive botnets using real src_addr's.

      Fix windows and you'll start to get somewhere. It'll stop spam too.

      -david

      --

      # Hack the planet, it's important.
    2. Re:Stopping this altogether by MrDomino · · Score: 1

      Decentralized networks (see Usenet or Freenet) are more or less immune to specialized (i.e. aimed at one location) DDoS attacks by nature; the only way to bring down a site is to bring down the entire network, and there is some work being done towards making even that impossible. Unfortunately, making dynamic content (e-mail, forums, more or less anything you'd be inclined to use a server-side language for) available through these sorts of networks ranges from painfully annoying to impossible.

      What I'd like to see is a sort of Bittorrent-like system implemented for the web; people who access websites can then serve those sites to others in a somewhat-decentralized fashion. That would require quite a bit of work (and maybe some fundamental restructuring of the internet a la IPv6 or similar), though, to be at all feasible on a large scale.

      This post can safely be ignored; it is nothing but the musings of a computer science student with no grounding in network programming.

    3. Re:Stopping this altogether by Technician · · Score: 1

      It disrupts the generally shared used of the Net among the community of users. Equally upsetting (in this case), is the fact you can practically put a competing small business out of business by participating in this type of conduct.


      Funny you should mention that. As one of the satelite companies went through 3 ISP's over 10 days trying to avoid the DDOS attack, the Department of Homeland Security had the unfortunate missfortune of being hosted by one of the ISP's. That's one way to get the Fed's to take notice. Flee to the ISP that hosts the government website while under a DDOS attack. That will get the feds interested.

      --
      The truth shall set you free!
  11. Re:If you think this is corrupt for satellite peop by ddx+Christ · · Score: 5, Interesting
    The automobile industry is much the same. My father once worked at an autoparts shop and whenever someone clueless came in looking for a part, the manager would come out, pretend to look at a list, then pretty much charge $20-$30 for a part that cost $2, and so on.

    My dad said there was nothing he could really do, since the guy was his boss, except inform customers to pretend to know what they're doing so that they don't get taken advantage of. Come to think of it, this also happens at places like Best Buy when it comes to computers.

  12. It's the future by mhollis · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Rather than innovate, I think we'll see more companies resorting to attacks of competitors' information systems. Innovation costs real money. You have to hire really smart people and they're not as inexpensive as the dullards who willingly participate in these schemes.

    Of course, it's a matter of time before terrorists and/or other countries (China and North Korea being two that come to mind) start these kinds of attacks on their enemies' or perceived enemies infrastructure.

    --
    Gods don't kill people, people with gods kill people.
    1. Re:It's the future by ergo98 · · Score: 1

      Rather than innovate, I think we'll see more companies resorting to attacks of competitors' information systems. Innovation costs real money. You have to hire really smart people and they're not as inexpensive as the dullards who willingly participate in these schemes.

      Hiring some dullard might be cheap, but civil lawsuits and potentially jail time isn't. It'd be quite the idiot (such as those demonstrated in the article) to think this was a credible business scheme.

      The thing about human beings, especially criminals for hire, is that they always rat you out. There is no honor among theives, and that cheap dullard will quickly get caught (the illusion of anonymity on the net, even behind botnets, is mostly a mirage), and they'll cough up your name like a cat with a hairball.

    2. Re:It's the future by sgt_doom · · Score: 1

      No offense, dude, but you're not current - they've been doing this for quite awhile - and it is increasing....

    3. Re:It's the future by mhollis · · Score: 1

      Please see Ergo98's comment, which follows yours.

      And I do agree with you. It's just that it will start being more visible, like this one.

      --
      Gods don't kill people, people with gods kill people.
    4. Re:It's the future by mhollis · · Score: 1

      Please see sgt doom's comment, which preceeds yours.

      You are right, of course. There is no honor among thieves.

      --
      Gods don't kill people, people with gods kill people.
  13. The Great Enabler. by Anti-Trend · · Score: 5, Informative
    Let's not forget the thing which made it possible for Roby to carry out these attacks in the first place. FTA:

    "In his plea agreement, Ashley admitted he knowingly allowed clients and employees to control networks of compromised Windows machines, or 'bots,' from Foonet."

    Now I realize that this may come across as trolling, but it doesn't make it any less true. If Windows wasn't so difficult for Joe Sixpack to lock down to the point where it can be used in a semi-secure fashion, it might be a different story. As it stands, you need a good antivirus, multiple spyware tools, browser hardening tools (if you continue to use IE) or a new browser, patches, service packs and more. And that's just the software end, not even best practice. In an average user's hands, it seems it's not a question of whether the system will be compromised, rather of who cracks it first. In this case, it seems to have been a script kiddie from Ohio.

    --
    Working in a DevOps shop is like playing in a band made up entirely of keytarists.
    1. Re:The Great Enabler. by waferhead · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Is a troll who makes a valid point really a troll?

      If I had mod points today, I'd probably mod the parent up, as it is at least a good point for discussion to start.

      ISPs IMHO should actively monitor their customers, at least to the point of looking for zombie machines, and shutting them down automatically.

      It would be a public service.

    2. Re:The Great Enabler. by ergo98 · · Score: 2, Interesting

      If Windows wasn't so difficult for Joe Sixpack to lock down...

      To be fair, Microsoft has made huge headway in regards to security with XP SP2. It isn't perfect, but a slipstreamed install of SP2 is a world more secure than a copy of Windows Me. Now that it's an actual focus (after well deserved criticism), Microsoft really seems to have made it a priority.

      In any case, how many Slashdotters, who we know largely run Windows, are running Firefox with the IDN hole waiting to be exploited? Uh oh, I brought up a fault in Firefox, so I'm going to be moderated a troll by one of my karma-stalkers (even though I run and prefer Firefox).

    3. Re:The Great Enabler. by Rob_Bryerton · · Score: 1

      ISPs should scan their networks for windows machines and disconnect any they find, regularly. Yes, I know that wouldn't work, because so many of the customers run windows. But other than that, it's actually a sensible idea.

      So let me get this straight... An ISP should disconnect ~80-90% of their clients because of some political and/or idealistic belief? But you say that's a bad idea. But other than it being a bad idea, it's a sensible idea. Then you generalize about "terminally clueless" operators.

      Hmmm....very interesting concept; "fire" the bulk of your customers. Who is it that's clueless? :P

      Seriously, alerting owners of infected machines sounds like a good idea, but in practice, until it is cheaper than the bandwith they consume, it'll never happen. ISP's are in it for money, not some sense of idealism or control. Granted, I like the idea of a "Windows-free" Internet, but let's be fair to the underpriveledged, mmmmkay?

    4. Re:The Great Enabler. by Arker · · Score: 1

      I didn't say it's a bad idea, I said it wouldn't work.

      It's not a political or idealistic belief, it's a fact that zombies are overwhelmingly windows boxes. All I'm saying is that those who choose to hook those systems up and don't bother to protect them impose a cost on all of us, and some way should be found to place that cost back on those who incur it with their choices, rather than making the rest of us share the burden of their actions.

      It wouldn't mean a 'windows free internet' btw - not by a long shot. All you have to do is throw a cheap firewall up between your windows box and the net.

      --
      =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
      Friends don't let friends enable ecmascript.
    5. Re:The Great Enabler. by sshore · · Score: 1
      If I had mod points today, I'd probably mod the parent up, as it is at least a good point for discussion to start.

      Metamoderation would correct that. It's an old, tired discussion attended only by neophytes with more fire than sense, proposing solutions that are unworkable and/or ineffective, or lead to worse problems than the one it solves.

      For instance, active ISP monitoring:

      • Increases ISP cost
      • Increases ISP liability
      • Zombie identification difficult as zombies evolve and authors intentionally obscure activity.
      • Sets a precedence for increased monitoring by ISP

      And it doesn't even fix the problem, as zombie writers just have to write around the filters.

      Your idea needs further thought.

    6. Re:The Great Enabler. by Bios_Hakr · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Let's say you drive me to the bank. I go in and decide to rob the place. You have no knowledge of the robbery. But, because you drove me there, you become an accomplice. We both go to jail for bank robbery.

      What we need to do is start filing lawsuits agianst every owner of every computer that is involved in botnet attacks.

      --
      I'd rather you do it wrong, than for me to have to do it at all.
  14. Re:If you think this is corrupt for satellite peop by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Hookers overcharge a lot, too.

    At least that's what I've heard...

  15. Leave it to /. to be help sensitivity by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Wired's article used the word hacker, here on /. it's cracker. Pussy ass Politcally-Correct-PC-hackering motherfuckers.

  16. Re:If you think this is corrupt for satellite peop by magarity · · Score: 4, Funny

    pretend to know what they're doing so that they don't get taken advantage of. Come to think of it, this also happens at places like Best Buy when it comes to computers.
     
    Funny, I always get the impression the BB sales staff is pretending they know what they are doing so that I won't take advantage of them.

  17. Damn Crackers by PipOC · · Score: 1, Funny

    Those damn whiteys finally getting what they deserve.

    1. Re:Damn Crackers by PipOC · · Score: 1

      Who modded this flamebait, it's humor.

    2. Re:Damn Crackers by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      There wasn't a -1 Not Funny moderation.

  18. goodbye cruel world by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I'm off to "federal pound-me-up-the-ass prison"

    -Richard Roby

    1. Re:goodbye cruel world by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
  19. MOD PARENT UP by Kent+Simon · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    this is not Offtopic, its funny...

    --
    Kent Simon Multitheft Auto
  20. Better idea by Dimensio · · Score: 4, Interesting

    All complicit parties belong in jail. The person who hired the hit and the person who carried it out.

    1. Re:Better idea by PunkOfLinux · · Score: 1

      Isn't that what they do with hit men?

  21. Did anyone else read the Title... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Did you read it and think... A black man must have wrote this headline? Finally, an Ohio Cracker gets sent to jail....

  22. the worst part by akhomerun · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Jay Echouafni, the 38-year-old satellite TV mogul who allegedly ordered and funded the cyberhits, went on the lam last year, and remains a fugitive from a federal indictment out of Los Angeles.

    the worst part is that this guy is still out there and hasn't been caught yet. hopefully it's only a matter of time before he's nabbed

    1. Re:the worst part by Archtype · · Score: 1

      Jay Echouafni, the 38-year-old satellite TV mogul who allegedly ordered and funded the cyberhits, went on the lam last year, and remains a fugitive from a federal indictment out of Los Angeles.

      Actually, its sorta funny, cause i knew this guy's son. He wasn't my best friend or anything, but I knew him. He went to my school. Funny, he always seemed to be trying to sell computer parts real cheap, but I never trusted him. He had a huge house, though.

    2. Re:the worst part by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      If he's tall and is pulling a dialysis machine behind him, he will be absolutely invisible to all US agencies.

  23. Who'd a thunk it by Brundylop · · Score: 1, Funny

    Who would have thought a Ritz could use a computer, let alone dDoS businesses?

  24. That was obvious wasn't it? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I mean, if someone's name is 'Krashed', surely he's some sort of criminal...

    1. Re:That was obvious wasn't it? by Spaceman+Spiff+II · · Score: 3, Funny

      I mean, if someone's name is 'Krashed', surely he's some sort of criminal... That... or he uses KDE.

      --
      I understand that life's not fair, just why is it never unfair in my favor?
    2. Re:That was obvious wasn't it? by chub_mackerel · · Score: 3, Funny

      No, no. Then he'd be a Kriminal.

    3. Re:That was obvious wasn't it? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Or have the name 'Krashed Komputer Kriminal'

      Now that's a Cracker.

  25. Cracka's by Cornflake917 · · Score: 0, Redundant

    Man I really thought as I read the headline was that a slashdot editor was pissed off at white people. Than I realized this was slashdot, and remeber there are other meanings for cracker.

    1. Re:Cracka's by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I don't get this. What other meaning would it have? What has that got to do with white people?

    2. Re:Cracka's by Cornflake917 · · Score: 1

      Well first of all, minorities use the word "cracka" as derogatory word toward white people. I am assuming you know that the main use of the word cracker is to describe a type of snack food.

  26. Hilarious - mod parent up by bigtallmofo · · Score: 1

    I'm glad I caught your comment despite it being unfairly mod'd. Rest assured it will be modded back up and the people that modded you "Troll" will be meta-moderated into never having mod points again.

    Now if you'll excuse me I'm going to Cracker Barrell for dinner tonight.

    --
    I'm a big tall mofo.
  27. Pleading Guilty by Mishra100 · · Score: 3, Insightful

    "Under federal sentencing guidelines, Ashley faces 70 to 87 months in prison for his role in the attacks" Unless he pleads non-guilty, which he should. If you plead guilty then they give you the maximum sentence. Non-guilty defendants have a change of arguing a couple of years off their sentence.

    1. Re:Pleading Guilty by DoddyUK · · Score: 2, Interesting

      I don't know how it works in America, but under UK law if the defendant pleads guilty, then the Judge may be likely to cut the custodial sentence by up to a third, although this may also be done if this is the defendant's first offence. Added to the fact that you may serve half of your sentance under curfew at home, if the judicial system is anything like that in the US, then he'll be out in no time.

      --
      Some think the Internet is a bad thing. I just think that AOL is a bad thing.
    2. Re:Pleading Guilty by mr_z_beeblebrox · · Score: 2, Informative

      Non-guilty defendants have a change of arguing a couple of years off their sentence.

      Actually, the hope is that non guilty defendants go free... the preference is to punish the guilty. Now, I assume you meant defendants who plea non-guilty which is different. Also, in most cases defendants who plea guilty usually do so because there is an "offer on the table". IE... the prosecutor tells them you can go to jail for up to 8 years, but if you plea guilty I will exercise my right to suggest a sentence and I will suggest 2 years. But yes, if you plea guilty you lose the opportunity to fight the system.

    3. Re:Pleading Guilty by Mishra100 · · Score: 1

      Yes I meant plea non-guilty. And I also meant "chance". :-p

  28. Title... by vectorian798 · · Score: 1, Redundant

    Did anyone else read that as "Ohio White Boy Confesses to Attacks for Hire"?

  29. justice? by entrex · · Score: 0

    its nice to see richard crash and burn.

    --
    To a nail, every person with a hammer looks like a problem.
  30. Deal? wtf? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Roby shouldn't be getting a bloody deal, he should be in Jail being someones bitch.

    The guy attacks small ISPs with a disregard for other peoples livelyhoods.

    Filthy script kiddie DoSSer

    Posted AC for obvious reasons

    1. Re:Deal? wtf? by Shin+Chan · · Score: 0, Offtopic

      Posted AC for obvious reasons

      Scared to stand up for your opinion? What is up with that. If you have an opinion, post it, but do it under your own name. Who cares about karma, thats for them whores, anyways.

      Yes, mod me off-topic.

      --
      Proud owner of BOT2K3 [ bot2k3.net ]
  31. He used by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    wInd0z!!!!
    LolL you know windoz si gfor hackerszzz.

    PROUd luinix usar fo 200 yeaRS!!!!!1

  32. Re:If you think this is corrupt for satellite peop by Eberlin · · Score: 5, Informative

    I always like to retell my best buy experience when the subject comes up simply because it was so frustratingly lame.

    I was going to purchase a laptop from them -- I did my research to make sure all of the essential hardware would run with my choice distro, yadda yadda.

    I walked into a store and instead of just picking the laptop up, decided to go ask one of their sales droids about it. "Will it run Linux?"

    The basic thing I got from him was that it would not. It was way underpowered to run a Linux server. (I had a 400MHz PII that ran RH, and this laptop had at least twice the stats of EVERYTHING the ol' PII had). I explained I didn't want a server but a desktop install. Same thing, he says. Says they all run their Linux servers on Alienware laptops.

    Asks why I disliked XP. Performance issues, security issues, MS antics. Guy tries to sell me XP Pro instead. Tells me an alphabet soup of certification credentials to make himself the smarter one...then says Bill Gates had bought out Linux and that in a year we wouldn't even be talking about Linux at all. This was two years ago.

    I politely thanked him and said I'd go home to rethink my strategy. I bought a Dell. Now running on Ubuntu Hoary.

    So yeah, not sure if that guy still works at that Best Buy but the degree of misinformation to upsell shtuff can get ugly.

  33. Racism! by l00sr · · Score: 2, Funny

    I believe they prefer the term 'melatoninally-challenged computer enthusiast'.

  34. WTF?? Redundant? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Someone with mod points please fix. Parent was just making a point, and his statement certainly didn't deserve that -1.

    1. Re:WTF?? Redundant? by martyn+s · · Score: 1

      Hey, m50d, it's bad form to reply to your own post, especially when you're pretending to be someone else.

    2. Re:WTF?? Redundant? by m50d · · Score: 1

      Believe it or not, that wasn't me.

      --
      I am trolling
  35. Cracker ass, Cracker... by starnix · · Score: 1

    as Chris Rock would say...

  36. Stopping this altogether: You can do it now. by twitter · · Score: 3, Insightful
    Is there anything that is being implemented to eliminate DDOS attacks altogether?

    Two things are being done. First, the FBI is nailing inept perpetrators as they can. This is like trying to cure a flea infestation by pinching the fleas off your friend's back. The second, more effective thing is the replacement of Windoze. Without Windoze, there will be no botnet. If you are new here, I suggest you get one of the following to improve your computing experience and help stamp out the weakness that will destroy the net:

    • Mepis, auto configures and runs live off CD. If you like it, the "install me" button does it's business in 20 minutes.
    • Xandros, what's left of Correl Linux, even easier for Windoze refugees with as much of the look and feel as possible.
    • Fedora, Red Hat's free software offering.
    • Debian Proper, harder than the others to set up but of much higher quality and easier to maintain.

    With so many choices, there will never be Windoze type problems on free software. The exploits will not carry into more than 10% of the install base at a time. Go get some and take a bite out of crime.

    --

    Friends don't help friends install M$ junk.

  37. satellite people and the local phone company. by twitter · · Score: 1
    satellite work... They make cable companies look like emissaries of Heaven and the phone company like Knights of the Round Table.

    Knights? More like robber barons. The only difference between them and incumbent telcos is that the incumbents are backed by government granted monopolies. The guys who did everything in their power to keep you from hooking a modem to your phone line are still overcharging you for their obsolete services. You won't find unilaterally changeable contracts outside of government protected business and there's a reason for it.

    --

    Friends don't help friends install M$ junk.

  38. Cracker Jack by Doc+Ruby · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Roby and the rest of his cracker gang are criminals and deserve jailtime when they're proven guilty. But the cops caught these guys because all they had to use to get away was a measly $1000. The guy who hired them, Echouafni, is "on the lam", because he's got the money to hide. So the cops and prosecutors will pounce all over Roby, because he's an easy target. Will the keystone kops take any heat for not getting Echouafni, who will easily find other people who are "brilliant in one area, but absolutely lacking in common sense in others"?

    --

    --
    make install -not war

    1. Re:Cracker Jack by chawly · · Score: 1

      Let's not mess around here. A completely fair trial followed by an immediate hanging. That'll teach 'em !

      --
      How many beans make five, anyhow ? ... Charles Walmsley
    2. Re:Cracker Jack by Doc+Ruby · · Score: 1

      Sure, the "when they're proven guilty" part I mentioned is messy. But not as messy as when I start roping up all the people I know are guilty, without that "fair trial" part. Don't get me staahhted...

      --

      --
      make install -not war

    3. Re:Cracker Jack by chawly · · Score: 1

      Didn't mean to. All I said was give them a fair trial, then an immediate hanging. "Proven guilty" is a relative term - after the trial let's just string them up.

      --
      How many beans make five, anyhow ? ... Charles Walmsley
  39. From their origin?? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The whole point of a DDoS is that the packets originate from a whole bunch of different machines!

  40. maintaining an attractive nusiance by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I agree, and think this could be a very nice lawsuit there, a class action one perhaps. I fail to see after years of warnings and how obvious it is that windows is more or less completely unsuitable for internet connections that they (MS) haven't been sued back to the stone age. I know if I was running a business and was getting DDoSed from hacked windows boxes, I would not only sue the originator if caught, but all the little bots out there. Screw em. If it's coming from your machine, you are responsible for it.

      If your brakes fail from a defect and from you not really giving a crap about maintaining them adequately, and the car rolls down the hill and creams someone, too bad, it's still your fault even if you claim "I didn't know". You can then sue the manufacturer later, but the cops will still arrest you or charge you in the first place. How is this any different from running a compromised machine?

        If you (generic anyone you) don't care to run something more secure on the net or take the time to make it secure, well, you are "maintaining an attractive nuisance", and being negligent, and there is past precedent for it, albeit not for computers yet, but it *could* happen. And then THOSE folks could in turn sue MS for selling them bogus crap not suitable for internet connections. I say take it on up the food chain if you get nailed by someone's compromised machine, and I don't care if it's someones grandma either. The RIAA and their ilk have no problems identifying IP numbers and suing individual people, I say it's high time that these windows bot runners get sued, whether they know about it or not. Enough's enough on the "I didn't knopw" excuse, this is 2005, not 1995, you have to be living in a cave to not know that windows machines are highly insecure and extremely easy to be compromised, and FOR SURE microsoft and the ISPs know this.

  41. About the company who hired him by Spy+der+Mann · · Score: 1

    If you need to bring down your competitor's network to keep earning money, shouldn't YOU be the one who needs to be brought down?

    It just reminds me of microsoft, squashing or buying the competition. I really think such actions should merit a trial on monopolic practices.

  42. Crackers? by deft · · Score: 2, Funny

    Someone let Chris Rock know those damn crackers finally getting their due!!

    --

    There's nothing Intelligent about Intelligent Design.
  43. Re:If you think this is corrupt for satellite peop by zakezuke · · Score: 1

    Funny, I always get the impression the BB sales staff is pretending they know what they are doing so that I won't take advantage of them.

    I have observed that their web prices are different than their store prices, so I do have to go in there with a printout of their website to get their web price. I imagine I "could" change all the prices around and take advantage of them if I really felt the need.

    But needless to say the parent should be marked as informative.

    --
    There is no sanctuary. There is no sanctuary. SHUT UP! There is no shut up. There is no shut up.
  44. Taking Offense . . . by Dausha · · Score: 5, Funny

    "Ohio Cracker Confesses . . . "

    I can't believe nobody else has taken offense to this. "Cracker" is a highly-charged derogatory term. The politically correct term is "Saltine-American."

    --
    What those who want activist courts fear is rule by the people.
    1. Re:Taking Offense . . . by WilliamSChips · · Score: 2, Funny

      I'm a Graham cracker you insensitive clod!

      --
      Please, for the good of Humanity, vote Obama.
  45. Re:If you think this is corrupt for satellite peop by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Hookers overcharge a lot, too. At least that's what I've heard...

    What... $10.00 for a condom... oh wait a high tech latex prophylactic with 5ml reservoir tip?

    $20 for a tube of hypoallergenic waterbased lubricant?

    $25 bio-waste disposal fee?

  46. Re:If you think this is corrupt for satellite peop by Mechcozmo · · Score: 1

    Funny, the BB staff pretends to tell me about their products but then just pays me to leave so I don't make them look bad.

  47. Re:If you think this is corrupt for satellite peop by Wavicle · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I think the plumbing industry is probably much the same. Moving a dishwasher this weekend, I snapped an improperly soldered joint the previous home owners had done themselves. I call in a plumber. He says he can't resolder the joint and he would have to charge me $125 to open the wall and see what is going on.

    He heads out to his truck and in the 5 minutes he is out there, I grab my rotozip and open the wall (Wow, 5 minutes of work just saved me $125). He looks at it and comes up with some other stuff that is problematic (this stuff was genuinely problematic). Now he says he would have re-do the entire last 3 feet of pipeline up to the outlet, but this time he's not going to charge me to open the wall (as I've already shown that I can do it myself). So he writes me up an invoice for $650 to cut the old pipe off and replace it after the wall is opened up.

    Included in the quote is a $50 3-way outlet. I already know that Home Depot sells those for $8.

    So I did it myself. And as it turns out, I didn't need to open up any more wall than I already had. I spent $50 on parts to learn how to sweat copper pipes together. Another $75 on a MAPP torch, solder, flux, wire pipe cleaner, pipe cutting tool, etc.. About 2 hours with a book reading up on how to sweat the fittings. 4 hours practicing soldering with copper. Voila! Problem solved!

    Now had the plumber charged $200 instead, I would have just paid him to do it and not learned how to fix the pipes myself.

    --
    Education is a better safeguard of liberty than a standing army.
    Edward Everett (1794 - 1865)
  48. Re:Ohio "Cracker" by HermanAB · · Score: 1

    Funny, I wasn't aware of cracker being a slang term for a whitey. Which part of the world is that from?

    --
    Oh well, what the hell...
  49. Too slow! FBI Shuts Down Hosting Service by AndroidCat · · Score: 1

    Don't forget the initial Slashdot story where most posters took the Eeevil FBI position.

    --
    One line blog. I hear that they're called Twitters now.
  50. "Krashed" by writermike · · Score: 1

    "Krashed"

    How appropriate.

    --
    If Nalgene water bottles are outlawed, only outlaws will have Nalgene water bottles.
  51. Re:Ohio "Cracker" by jlanthripp · · Score: 1

    It's from the United States. Urban Dictionary has many definitions of the term, but this (set of) definition(s) is perhaps the most complete and accurate:

    1: A firecracker
    2: A thin, crisp wafer
    3: One whom cracks illegally into another's computer or network
    4: A racist term used against Caucasians/Whites

    --
    "Alcohol, Tobacco, & Firearms" should be a convenience store, not a government agency.
  52. This is what Chris Rock would call... by pwnage · · Score: 1

    ...a cracka-ass cracka!

    --
    Reminder: Apple owns 1/255th of the internet.
  53. Re:If you think this is corrupt for satellite peop by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    In 1999 I bought a display model 17" monitor for $179 from Best Buy. They tried to sell me the extra warranty - whispering that if /anything/ happened to it like say, I accidentally plugged the thing into a 220V AC outlet, they would have to replace it, and by a year from then there would be no such thing as a CRT monitor, so I would have to be given a nice new LCD. Well that monitor just died and since my parents inherited it, they went out and bought another CRT. Of course, this is 5x longer than that warranty would have lasted, and LCDs are just barely getting competitive in price.

  54. Whitey keepin' us down! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    This is from the Southern United States, and the term comes from nickname slaves gave the the white slave driver, who "cracks" the whip. Cracker is now used a racially charged pejorative against whites.

  55. Re:Ohio "Cracker" by Technician · · Score: 1

    Haha...I though they meant cracker as in "white person"......lol......


    What's funny is the FBI page on the guy listed the race as White. Your milage may vary.

    {ducks}

    --
    The truth shall set you free!
  56. Re:Stopping this altogether: You can do it now. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful
    Without Windoze, there will be no botnet.

    Please explain to us how you are going to prevent 100 million clueless users from allowing their machines to be p0wn3d when they get that email with a REALLY COOL SCREENSAVER!!!1! and a .tar file attachment that has a script with the execute bit set. I mean, they infect their 'Windoze' machines now that way. With worms on password-protected ZIP files. Please tell us how you're going to prevent them from entering their root password when a program they downloaded from Kazaa asks them for it.

    Go ahead, enlighten us as to what is going to happen when 100 million people switch from 'Windoze'.

  57. Re:Stopping this altogether: You can do it now. by twitter · · Score: 2, Interesting
    An AC with his head up his ass, spews a bunch of Windoze centeric FUD out and asks:

    Go ahead, enlighten us as to what is going to happen when 100 million people switch from 'Windoze'.

    The same thing that's happened to the 5 million or so Mac users and the 5 million or so Linux users: Absolutely nothing bad. The system itself has reasonable defaults and give the user a clue. The system itself also has a way of getting that cool software, if it's not already loaded, without having to download it from some random spyware shop. Root passwords should not have to be entered often, so this should come as a shock to the user of a good distro. These systems are already out there and they already don't have Windoze type problems. The 12 minute windoze half life does not require user intervention. Anything is better than that.

    --

    Friends don't help friends install M$ junk.

  58. Re:Stopping this altogether: You can do it now. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
    Absolutely nothing bad

    No, no. Picture 100 million clueless users who use 'Windoze' right now using Linux. Using Xandros or Linspire. Go ahead, you can do it. Try harder. Extrapolate. Now picture maybe 300 million (give or take). Use a few brain cells. You write these incredible insightful essays on how 'Windoze' is the source of all of humanity's problems, surely you can also think for a second and imagine something like that. A Linux botnet. An OS X botnet. 300 million boxes out there. The possibilities are endless. A Firefox vulnerability, another OpenSSH remote hole on a distro with a custom support app written to work over SSH (for example). C'mon now, you can do it.

    Unless of course your position is that something like that is impossible to happen. Impossible. Because operating systems other than 'Windoze' have the ability to dispell away user stupidity. Surely... you don't think so, do you?

    This is your chance to back your claims up, let's hear it!

  59. Re:Stopping this altogether: You can do it now. by SparcPlug · · Score: 1

    'Unless of course your position is that something like that is impossible to happen. Impossible. Because operating systems other than 'Windoze' have the ability to dispell away user stupidity. Surely... you don't think so, do you?'

    Obviously this is not what he was saying.
    The idea is that with intelligent defaults an OS can significantly mitigate user ineptitude.
    The impact of bugs such as the recent Cisco security flaw [if it would have been more readily exploitable] are also further lessened by having not just a single OS so readily attackable, but by having many varying OSs with less than predictable composition.

  60. Re:Stopping this altogether: You can do it now. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
    He is saying that. He's posturing that using 'Windoze' makes me stupid and using Linux or OS X or AtheOS or HURD makes me smarter.

    In other words, I'm magically less likely to do something stupid on Linux than I am on 'Windoze'. So for example, I would never download a tarball that has a script with the execute bit turned on, and then blindly run it. Never. That's out of the question. I'll do it on 'Windoze', because 'Windoze' makes me stupid, but never on Linux. No sir, no way.

    Give me a break.

    many varying OSs with less than predictable composition

    That is true today, but it won't be once Linux (or OS X or whatever) gains any meaningful ground against Microsoft on the desktop. With market share will come consolidation, and with consolidation will come yet-another-monoculture. This is inevitable.

  61. Re:Stopping this altogether: You can do it now. by SparcPlug · · Score: 1

    and then blindly run it...

    Indeed, in terms of hapless users opening executable attachments however, I defer to http://www.ranum.com/security/computer_security/ed itorials/dumb/ #5 and my hope that in the future, users will have to actually jump through some hoops before allowing themselves to be pwnd.

    With so many choices, there will never be Windoze type problems on free software.
    This is just wrong...

    The exploits will not carry into more than 10% of the install base at a time.
    This is much more likely however.

    The idea that security through obscurity only leads to a monoculture of what was once obscure. Good coding practices and quality software design with open auditing of the code however do afford a much better chance of dodging known as well as unknown remote attacks, regardless of what portion of hardware out there runs said code. This is most certainly not something Windows has going for it.

  62. Re:Stopping this altogether: You can do it now. by clymere · · Score: 1
    Root passwords should not have to be entered often, so this should come as a shock to the user of a good distro.

    I haven't used a version of linux or BSD yet that didn't require the root password to install software, which is a far from seldom occurrence.

    Linux is far from bulletproof. We are all going to have a rude awakening if and when it gains more desktop marketshare. The biggest problem securing any piece of software is still the user, in any OS.

    --
    once you go slack, you never go back
  63. Remember in Casino ? by UberHoser · · Score: 0

    The scene with the hammer ?

    WHAM WHAM WHAM WHAM!

    Now he can't type. Best of all, record it and post it onto the web so other hackers, crackers, DOSers get the idea....

    --
    Guns are for wimps... Use a crossbow.. this way you can pin them to their chair when you go postal.
  64. Re:If you think this is corrupt for satellite peop by Lumpy · · Score: 1

    Bingo, this is why many of my frineds I inform them how to install their own diectTV dish themselves and save $100.00 on $3.25 worth of installation work. Yes the installers do such a crappy job they are only worth about that. they butcher your house, butcher the install, and intentionally cause problems on the roof if you do not pay for their "premium" crap.

    I helped a friend with it, we secretly videotaped his install and were able to sue the installer for repairs and get him in jail for 90 days for blatently lying to the judge.

    The fun part was after his lawsuit and the local paper coverage others came out of the woodwork to sue this turd.

    One of the rare times I saw the system actually work... Unfortunately most people and my buddy will get nothing out of him.... Just because you lose a lawsuit does not mean you have to pay anything to the winner. scumbags will find a way to skip out on it.

    --
    Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
  65. Re:If you think this is corrupt for satellite peop by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    So you rethought your strategy and bought a Dell... Yep, you should have kept thinking.

  66. Re:If you think this is corrupt for satellite peop by Jack+Sparrow · · Score: 1

    Funny, I always get the impression the BB sales staff is pretending they know what they are doing so that I won't take advantage of them.

    Spot on. I walked out BBuy the other day when a guy tried to sell me a TV that supported 760p that had the native resolution of "480 or 840"

  67. the xerox machines in russia.... by theREALbillder · · Score: 0

    are as closely guarded as the missile sites...3tk4/nyc/c1980

    --
    Light Happens.
  68. Re:Ohio "Cracker" by gymell · · Score: 1

    Please, I prefer the term "European-American."

  69. Re:Ohio "Cracker" by HermanAB · · Score: 1

    I'm an African-American White, Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Buddist, Confusion...

    --
    Oh well, what the hell...
  70. Re:Amateur boxer by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    By definition, an amateur boxer is beating the crap out of people without getting paid for it. If he gets paid, he's a pro. If he kicks somebodys ass outside the ring, he goes to jail, unless he has a good lawyer and a tight selfdefense case.

    If he beats your ass in the ring, it's a fight by mutual consent, and (at least theoretically) between evenly matched opponents.

    Yeah, yeah, I know.. IHBT. IHL. HAND.

  71. Re:Stopping this altogether: You can do it now. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
    Moderators: Please note that "twitter" is a known fanatical sycophant whose obnoxious offtopic rants are legend here on Slashdot. It doesn't matter what the topic is, he'll find a way to scrape in some pointless Microsoft bashing. While nobody expects us to love Microsoft in any way, his particularly tepid style of calling anyone he replies to "troll" or "liar" or "fanboy" because he happens to disagree with whatever they're saying is well documented and should not be rewarded. If anything, twitter is the type of person that should not be part of the open source/free software community. He is an anathema to all that is good about free software.

    I'm posting this so that you (the moderator) have some context to consider twitter and not mod him up whenever he posts his filler preformatted rants about installing Knoppix or Mepis or whatever that unfortunately get him karma every single time and allow him to continue posting his trademark toxic crap (read on) day in and day out. You may consider this a troll - I consider it community service. And I ain't kidding.

    If you're a /. subscriber, I invite you to look through some of his posting history. I guarantee that you'll be hard pressed to find someone that is more "out there" than twitter. You'll also probably notice he's got quite an AC following. Don't just read his posts, make sure you go through the replies.

    To get an idea of what I'm talking about, check this post out. This is an article about email disclaimers. The parent of the post is complaining about the ads in the linked page and so on, and twitter actually goes off on a rant to blame it on Microsoft and recommend Lynx, because "is teh free".

    Here's another. In this post twitter not only calls the OP a troll but attempts to "tell it like it is" while making some vague argument about "GNU". Yes, if you're confused, you're not alone. The reply (modded +4) proceeds to simply destroy his bogus argument. You will notice he did not reply. This is what some people call "drive-by advocacy". A sort of I'll just leave you with my thoughts here and move on to the next flamebait kind of deal. In fact, he almost never replies because he knows that his fanatical arguments simply do not hold up to any sort of discussion. It's not that he's chosen the wrong cause - he's just going at it in a completely wrong way.

    Here's that drive-by advocacy and FUD in motion: twitter goes on about some topic and then drops the usual "oh and M$ is teh evil" because "WMP phones home" or some such. Called on his FUD, he then claims that WMP stores every song and movie you've ever played in a file, somewhere. Pressed further, he just sort of slithers out of sight, his FUD-spreading complete. This is not about some Microsoft technology that nobody likes anyway; it's about lying for the sake of lying. Way too many of his posts are exactly like this one.

    More? Just read though this post and the subsequent replies. I guess this stands on its own. Or these two. Or this one. Or this one.

    Still not convinced? This is what twitter considers "humour" while going about his daily "M$" routine.

    M

  72. Re:Stopping this altogether: You can do it now. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
    Moderators: Please note that "twitter" is a known fanatical sycophant whose obnoxious offtopic rants are legend here on Slashdot. It doesn't matter what the topic is, he'll find a way to scrape in some pointless Microsoft bashing. While nobody expects us to love Microsoft in any way, his particularly tepid style of calling anyone he replies to "troll" or "liar" or "fanboy" because he happens to disagree with whatever they're saying is well documented and should not be rewarded. If anything, twitter is the type of person that should not be part of the open source/free software community. He is an anathema to all that is good about free software.

    I'm posting this so that you (the moderator) have some context to consider twitter and not mod him up whenever he posts his filler preformatted rants about installing Knoppix or Mepis or whatever that unfortunately get him karma every single time and allow him to continue posting his trademark toxic crap (read on) day in and day out. You may consider this a troll - I consider it community service. And I ain't kidding.

    If you're a /. subscriber, I invite you to look through some of his posting history. I guarantee that you'll be hard pressed to find someone that is more "out there" than twitter. You'll also probably notice he's got quite an AC following. Don't just read his posts, make sure you go through the replies.

    To get an idea of what I'm talking about, check this post out. This is an article about email disclaimers. The parent of the post is complaining about the ads in the linked page and so on, and twitter actually goes off on a rant to blame it on Microsoft and recommend Lynx, because "is teh free".

    Here's another. In this post twitter not only calls the OP a troll but attempts to "tell it like it is" while making some vague argument about "GNU". Yes, if you're confused, you're not alone. The reply (modded +4) proceeds to simply destroy his bogus argument. You will notice he did not reply. This is what some people call "drive-by advocacy". A sort of I'll just leave you with my thoughts here and move on to the next flamebait kind of deal. In fact, he almost never replies because he knows that his fanatical arguments simply do not hold up to any sort of discussion. It's not that he's chosen the wrong cause - he's just going at it in a completely wrong way.

    Here's that drive-by advocacy and FUD in motion: twitter goes on about some topic and then drops the usual "oh and M$ is teh evil" because "WMP phones home" or some such. Called on his FUD, he then claims that WMP stores every song and movie you've ever played in a file, somewhere. Pressed further, he just sort of slithers out of sight, his FUD-spreading complete. This is not about some Microsoft technology that nobody likes anyway; it's about lying for the sake of lying. Way too many of his posts are exactly like this one.

    More? Just read though this post and the subsequent replies. I guess this stands on its own. Or these two. Or this one. Or this one.

    Still not convinced? This is what twitter considers "humour" while going about his daily "M$" routine.

    M