Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Researcher's Death Hampers TCP Flaw Fix

Posted by timothy on from the sad-news-and-bad-news dept.

linuxwrangler writes "Security researcher Jack Louis, who had discovered several serious security flaws in TCP software was killed in a fire on the ides of March, dealing a blow to efforts to repair the problem. Although he kept good notes and had communicated with a number of vendors, he died before fixes could be created and prior to completing research on a number of additional vulnerabilities. Much of the work has been taken over by Louis' friend and long-time colleague Robert E. Lee. The flaws have been around for a long time and would allow a low-bandwidth 'sockstress' attack to knock large machines off the net."

7 of 147 comments (clear)

  1. Robert E. Lee by verbalcontract · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Was it necessary to refer to his colleague as Robert E. Lee? Now we're going to get a ton of "South will rise again" jokes.

  2. Dang low bus factors! by mrbene · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Less than a week ago is was Rick752. Now this one. Definitely reinforces the importance of collaboration, and the fragile nature of ideas.

  3. What the fuck by Godji · · Score: 5, Insightful

    So a good scientist dies and all Slashdotters can do is attempt whoring out a +5 Funny with lame jokes?

    My high regard for the Slashdot community is obviously misguided.

    It's a great loss for the research community and my condolences go to his family. And really, that's a nasty way to go... :(

    1. Re:What the fuck by momerath2003 · · Score: 5, Funny

      High regard for the Slashdot community? Wow, dude, you seriously are misguided.

      --
      I had but a simple dream, to destroy all humans.
    2. Re:What the fuck by maxume · · Score: 5, Insightful

      150,000 strangers died today. Picking 5 of them and feeling bad about it is awful damn close to insanity.

      --
      Nerd rage is the funniest rage.
  4. But... by Roger+W+Moore · · Score: 5, Funny

    I thought you Americans did win that one?

  5. Here's the guy... by tjstork · · Score: 5, Informative

    Well, everyone's having a good laugh at the expense of the death of this guy. May as well laugh at a picture of him.

    --
    This is my sig.