Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Was This the First Denial of Service Attack?

Posted by timothy on from the read-the-disclaimer-about-calling-first dept.

An anonymous reader writes "Way back in 1974, Dave Dennis, then aged 13, decided to try out the -ext- TUTOR command on the PLATO system at the University of Illinois, and see if he could cause all the terminals of other users to go offline. It worked. And he never got caught. Of course, the powers that be eventually caught on and fixed the -ext- command so terminals by default didn't automatically receive -ext-'s sent from other locations."

6 of 166 comments (clear)

  1. Short answer by TinBromide · · Score: 5, Funny

    Yes

    --
    Is it sad that I am more likely to recognize you and your posts by your sig than your name or UID?
  2. Seems fitting by JorDan+Clock · · Score: 5, Funny

    The first recorded denial of service was performed by a 13 year old, who was basically using a "script kiddie" technique? Well, color me surprised.

    1. Re:Seems fitting by Cryacin · · Score: 5, Funny

      He made it himself. He wouldn't trust anyone else to get the spelling right.

      --
      Science advances one funeral at a time- Max Planck
  3. Frist Post!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    And last post...

    -ext- :D

  4. Re:So they could receive commands!? by pookemon · · Score: 5, Funny

    So I'm guessing you weren't around in 1974. It might also surprise you to learn that once upon a time there were no virus scanners or firewalls. I bet I just blew your mind with that one...

    --
    dnuof eruc rof aixelsid
  5. Actually ... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    This type of denial of service was already quite common long before that.