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Symantec Users, Start Your Keyloggers

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the unfurling-the-welcome-mat dept.

An anonymous reader writes "Script kiddies have been taking advantage of intrusion prevention features of Symantec's Norton Firewall and Norton Internet Security Suites to knock users offline in IRC channels, according to an amusing post at Washingtonpost.com. From the article: 'Turns out that if someone types "startkeylogger" or "stopkeylogger" in an IRC channel, anyone on the channel using the affected Norton products will be immediately kicked off without warning. These are commands typically issued by the Spybot worm, which spreads over IRC and peer-to-peer file-swapping networks, installing a program that records and transmits everything the victim types (known as a keylogger).' Makes you wonder what other magic keywords produce unexpected results with Symantec's software."

11 of 313 comments (clear)

  1. +++ATH by petard · · Score: 4, Funny

    People just don't learn very well from past mistakes...

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    .sig: file not found
  2. Yep, it works... by xx_toran_xx · · Score: 5, Funny

    startkeylogger -- phonex has quit (Read error: Connection reset by peer) -- TomA has quit (Read error: Connection reset by peer) -- something3280 has quit (Read error: Connection reset by peer

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    Arrrrrrr
  3. MMORPG affected? by kindbud · · Score: 4, Funny

    If I am dueling with a leet player on WoW, will this work to kick him off the game? Would I be able to gank him before the server times him out?

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    Edith Keeler Must Die
  4. So bad? by mugnyte · · Score: 3, Funny


      While yes a bug, most of my experience on IRC would point towards a benefit if anyone could boot anyone else. The benefit is to those booted, to be clear.

  5. Doesn't affect me by GAATTC · · Score: 5, Funny

    I have Symantec's Norton Firewall and when I type startkeylogge

  6. But they just did... by TCQuad · · Score: 3, Funny

    Now, if we could only get the skript kiddies to put their minds to something productive...

    Since IRC is mostly a time-killer, wouldn't something that knocks people off of it be considered productive?

  7. Re:Does it work with other programs? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    I have the Symantec suite installed, and when I type "startkeylogger

  8. And now, ladies and gentlemen... by Spy+der+Mann · · Score: 5, Funny

    Type "start" and "key" and "logger" together and something funny happens!
    <n00b>startkeylogger
    * n00b has Quit IRC (G-Lined - Banned from AustNet: This address has been used for deliberately try to disconnect others)
    <user1>ROFLMAO!
    <user2>Dude, stop doing that
    <user1>Don't worry, he won't do it again
    <user2>LOL!

  9. Bitcom too by Reziac · · Score: 4, Funny

    Remember the old Bitcom for DOS? if you were reading messages on a BBS, and if in one of those messages you encountered the phrase "NO CARRIER", Bitcom would helpfully hang up the modem!

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    ~REZ~ #43301. Who'd fake being me anyway?
  10. Re:One thing for sure. by mboverload · · Score: 4, Funny

    With all due respect to people who use Norton,

    Only script kiddies use Norton. Seriously.

  11. Re:No surprise here... by caudron · · Score: 3, Funny

    US companies suck at malware detection. I've found the eastern European companies to be among the best.

    Sure, the author is always gonna best know how to uninstall his app.

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    -Tom