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UK, Not North Korea, Is Source of DDoS Attacks

angry tapir writes "The UK was the likely source of a series of attacks last week that took down popular Web sites in the US and South Korea, according to an analysis performed by a Vietnamese computer security researcher. The results contradict assertions made by some in the US and South Korean governments that North Korea was behind the attack. Security analysts had been skeptical of the claims, which were reportedly made in off-the-record briefings and for which proof was never delivered." The Vietnamese security site's blog is linked from the article, but it is very slow even before Slashdotting. The researchers observed 166,908 zombies participating in the attacks — a number far larger than most earlier estimates.
Update: 07/14 21:24 GMT by KD : Wired is reporting that the UK owner of the IP address in question is pointing a finger at a server in Florida, which it says opened a VPN to the UK machine for the attacks. Once again, the attacker could be anywhere.

20 of 175 comments (clear)

  1. However.... by Blixinator · · Score: 3, Funny

    North Koreans are still told that the mighty leader Kim-Jong Il brought down the evil western internet.

    --
    "The Y chromosome is genetic. The odds are very good that if you are male then your father was too." -Internet Commenter
    1. Re:However.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      Most North Koreans don't even know what the internet is...

      @North Korea: Its a series of tubes...

    2. Re:However.... by shentino · · Score: 2, Funny
      Almost true, except that once the packet gets into the global routing system, it's impossible to authenticate the source, as the packet literally could have come from anywhere.

      The only assurance that the alleged sourcing network is legitimate is that the true sourcing network is properly filtering out emigrating martians. Not all networks do their part here, and any network far enough up the hierarchy soon can make few if any assumptions about where their packets come from.

  2. Come on, UK! by Foobar+of+Borg · · Score: 5, Funny

    For the love of Heaven! The war has been over for 226 years! Get over it, already!

    1. Re:Come on, UK! by DoofusOfDeath · · Score: 4, Funny

      For the love of Heaven! The war has been over for 226 years! Get over it, already!

      They are over the American Revolution. This is their response for us creating the "Three's Company".

    2. Re:Come on, UK! by RiotingPacifist · · Score: 3, Funny

      You can have your stupid country we just want Hugh Laurie and Jon Oliver back!

      p.s we'd settle for getting rid of Madonna and their being a court injunction against her using that stupid British accent!

      --
      IranAir Flight 655 never forget!
    3. Re:Come on, UK! by gilleain · · Score: 4, Funny

      They are over the American Revolution. This is their response for us creating the "Three's Company".

      Well, wikipedia says that was a remake of a British sitcom, so... we're sorry?

    4. Re:Come on, UK! by cbiltcliffe · · Score: 3, Funny

      Come on! He went through the American school system.

      It's not his fault. Give the guy a break!

      --
      "City hall" in German is "Rathaus" Kinda explains a few things......
  3. Who controls the botnets. by B5_geek · · Score: 5, Funny

    Just because most of the IP's involved were from the UK does not mean that N.Korea wasn't responsible.

    I have to wonder how one 'creates' such a geography specific botnet. Do they have UK spam with words like bollocks? Or in the USA is it 'gun porn'? I bet they use 'Tim Hortons' to catch the Canadians. =)

    --
    "The price good men pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men." ~Plato (427-347 BC)
  4. Response by DoofusOfDeath · · Score: 5, Funny

    Fortunately, we can count on the British government to respond with reasoned caution, and with the utmost respect for citizens' future privacy and freedom.

  5. Why would NK do it? by Ralph+Spoilsport · · Score: 2, Funny
    It would make them so Ronery.

    RS

    --
    Shoes for Industry. Shoes for the Dead.
  6. We've waited for 50 years... by MosesJones · · Score: 5, Funny

    And now we want our Empire back...

    I just can't believe that they've blown our cover so soon, I thought that dragging America into end-less wars in Iraq and Afghanistan was a brilliant move (did you seriously think that BUSH came up with the idea?) and the latest shift towards economic desolation via cyber attacks was extremely well thought out.

    And why can we do this.... Because WE HAVE A FLAG!

    Okay back to plan B of being crap at sports we invent but quite polite about losing.

    --
    An Eye for an Eye will make the whole world blind - Gandhi
  7. Re:Oh? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Slashdot mentality always seems to be that any contradicting reports beat the initial report.

    No it doesn't.

    (waits for the +5 insightful mod)

    +1 Funny

  8. Re:Oh? by AdamTrace · · Score: 4, Funny

    Well this isn't an argument!

  9. Re:Where != Who by Amazing+Quantum+Man · · Score: 3, Funny

    Hate to tell you this, but Korea and Vietname are two different countries.

    --
    Fascism starts when the efficiency of the government becomes more important than the rights of the people.
  10. UK Terror Attack by gmuslera · · Score: 2, Funny

    As previously Beetles America invasion failed, they now are trying with Zombies. Whats next? Vampires? Werewolves?

  11. Re:Oh? by niew · · Score: 5, Funny

    Yes it is...

  12. Re:Oh? by RiotingPacifist · · Score: 2, Funny

    This report uses actual evidence! (A strange concept in the US, i know)

    --
    IranAir Flight 655 never forget!
  13. Re:Oh? by skeeto · · Score: 5, Funny

    North Korea didn't, but we are meant to think they did. These packets are side by side. Koreans always ping single file to hide their numbers. And these SYN attacks, too accurate for North Koreans. Only British hackers are so precise.

  14. Re:Proxy? by Mister+Whirly · · Score: 4, Funny

    No it isn't. Just yank the ethernet cable and problem solved. Couldn't be quicker or less expensive than that!

    --
    "But this one goes to 11!"