Slashdot Mirror
Cyber Criminals Tying Up Emergency Phone Lines Through TDoS Attacks, DHS Warns
tsamsoniw writes "Emergency-service providers and other organizations are being targeted with TDoS (telephony denial of service) attacks, according to a security alert (PDF) from the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI, obtained by security expert Brian Krebs. TDoS attacks use high volumes of automated calls to tie up target phone systems, halting incoming and outgoing calls. Perpetrators are using the attacks to extort cash from target organizations, who receive a call from a representative from a purported payday loan company, who demands payment of $5,000 for an outstanding debt — usually speaking in an unspecified 'strong accent.'"
The money has to be deposited somewhere, and that somewhere may be traceable.
I understand that is how scam-/spam-gangs are traced.
Slashdot social media options: AIM, ICQ, Yahoo, Jabber and Mobile Text. Why no MySpace?
If you think the car door lock or ignition lock stops a motivated thief you are as clueless when it comes to car security as the PC owners are about computer security.
Hmmm. Where do I fit into all of this? I run Linux Mint Debian. I've basically turned the firewall off, on the computer and at the router. No antivirus. But, I'm up to date with a rolling distro. Although I have three versions of Java installed, my browsers don't know about them. Flash is installed, and disabled by default. Javascript is disabled by default, but I can select sites on which to run it. In the unlikely event that I am pwned - how liable do you think I should be? Are my precautions adequate?
"Windows is like the faint smell of piss in a subway: it's there, and there's nothing you can do about it." - Charlie Br