Brad Fitzpatrick ([info]bradfitz) wrote in [info]lj_maintenance,
2004-06-30 00:37:00
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Remember status.livejournal.org

Whenever LiveJournal's off the net or slow, be sure to check out the off-site status report:

http://status.livejournal.org/ (dot ORG, not COM)

Of note, the past few hours we put up:
Many users are experiencing difficulty accessing the site right now, due to a flood of malicious traffic. Please note: it's not "hackers" taking us down. If hackers were people who hotwired cars to steal them, these people are just punks slashing tires with shiny knives they didn't even make. We're working with a number of people to get this stopped, including the FBI. We're very sorry for the inconvenience.
Let's hope the government catches this particular idiot. Probably not, though. And he'll probably be back, because he has no friends.

In any case, we're making changes to be able to absorb even larger attacks. The idea is to live through attacks (which are frequent, sadly) while you trace them in the background, and filter them out, working upstream to upstream. (The internet infrastructure really sucks.)

One thing you can do to help is not run Windows. There's a good chance a number of you Windows users were helping attack us tonight. These vandals are controlling "zombies" running on your machines without you knowing it, and they then use those zombies (your computers) to attack whoever they're controlled to.

If you have to run Windows, at least install a firewall and run AdAware and run anti-virus stuff and clean your computer night and day. Don't use Internet Explorer or Outlook, which have terrible security records. Try out Mozilla Firefox and Thunderbird. Firefox in particular is really nice.

I'm not trying to advocate switching to Mac OS X or Linux, I'm just saying Windows seems to invite viruses and trojans, and it's annoying from my perspective, so take care of your computers for the sake of the entire broken internet.

(The internet's broken because it allows spoofed src address packets to go so far... just like email's broken....)

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[info]cleversimon

June 30 2004, 00:41:22 UTC 7 years ago

I'll second that Firefox/Thunderbird plug.

[info]kennastar

June 30 2004, 06:15:15 UTC 7 years ago

Hey

I agree with the Firefox/thunderbird thing!
But last night was so annoying trying to get to here! Blah!

[info]siloandstench

7 years ago

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[info]sarahthesleuth

June 30 2004, 00:41:31 UTC 7 years ago

How does MyIE2 fit in to the scheme of things? I'm sure it's safer than regular IE, but how does it compare to Firefox?

[info]bradfitz

June 30 2004, 00:43:12 UTC 7 years ago

Given that it still uses the IE renderer, I don't think it'd be any more secure.

[info]ex_niciasus652

7 years ago

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[info]mandyatui

June 30 2004, 00:41:40 UTC 7 years ago

:-0

ummm thanx for the warning...

[info]myfriendjacki

July 10 2004, 07:37:31 UTC 7 years ago

Re: :-0

seeing as no one replyed i have

[info]laertime

June 30 2004, 00:42:13 UTC 7 years ago

Score!

Woot for OSX and Mozilla!

[info]joshz

June 30 2004, 00:48:02 UTC 7 years ago

Re: Score!

Woot for Right Guard Xtreme Sport (with power stripe) deodorant!

[info]laertime

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[info]swerved

June 30 2004, 00:42:35 UTC 7 years ago

Spybot is another really great utility that works wonders for Windows users. I love, love, love it and run it at least once a day.

[info]decadence1

June 30 2004, 05:51:53 UTC 7 years ago

SpyBot - Search & Destroy

INDEED.

Incidentally, the correct link for everyone's reference is:

http://www.safer-networking.org

It's the official site for Spybot - Search & Destroy. Note the hyphen in the link etc. Variants on that hyperlink may well lead to malicious sites.
The tool also has an 'Immunize', block bad downloads, and block known bas Hosts feature (amongst other options).

For both Ad-aware and Spybot S&D, please remember to regularly check for and download updates/reference files.

That was mainly to others, as I'm sure [info]swerved already knew that. :)

[info]kingfox

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[info]separated

June 30 2004, 00:42:43 UTC 7 years ago

bradfitz is the new readrian confirm/deny?

[info]2justin

June 30 2004, 00:50:45 UTC 7 years ago

confirmed

[info]rapehamstor

7 years ago

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[info]cpn_jacksparrow

June 30 2004, 00:42:51 UTC 7 years ago

regular mozilla is good as well as the "split" halves.
this is another reason why microsoft sucks - its going to stop pirated copies of xp from installing service pack 2. which just means more zombie p.c's for everyone else.

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[info]lassarina

June 30 2004, 00:43:12 UTC 7 years ago

Agreed, Firefox is super spectacular. My only gripe with Mozilla is that I don't want Thunderbird until they've got a version that doesn't have to startup both Firefox and Thunderbird when you click on one or the other, which massively slows things down (and I've got a painfully slow, ancient box to start with.)

But yes, many plugs for all things which keep computers running better.

And many curses in the direction of MoronSoft and their terribly vulnerable OS.

[info]happypenguin

June 30 2004, 01:20:22 UTC 7 years ago

My only gripe with Mozilla is that I don't want Thunderbird until they've got a version that doesn't have to startup both Firefox and Thunderbird when you click on one or the other
Huh? It's not meant to do that - if you're seeing it then it's a bug.

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[info]digitalsidhe

June 30 2004, 00:45:16 UTC 7 years ago

I've been telling everyone I know about the IE and Outlook insecurities, and the dangers of zombifying malware, for many months. Hopefully at least a few of them have listened, and hence were (again, hopefully) not owners of machines attacking LJ lately.

I see a general rising tide of this kind of information sweeping across the Net lately; maybe it'll be heard this time around.

[info]lunameow

June 30 2004, 01:33:02 UTC 7 years ago

You're extremely optimistic. How many times has it been repeated, "don't open email attachments from people you don't know" or "keep your antivirus software current"? I'm constantly amazed by the amount of people I know who don't even have antivirus software installed, nevermind things like AdAware. Of course, I'm always mildly surprised that people would just randomly let websites stick cookies on their computer without asking first, but nearly everyone does.

[info]nightveil

7 years ago

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[info]celtic4

June 30 2004, 00:47:20 UTC 7 years ago

Hope you guys catch those morons. >_

[info]bizzy_3

June 30 2004, 07:00:20 UTC 7 years ago

I agree with you

"Let's hope the government catches this particular idiot. Probably not, though. And he'll probably be back, because he has no friends." that is the single most ingenious statement since my posts. ; )

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[info]alobar

June 30 2004, 02:50:19 UTC 7 years ago

The tabs on firefox make it amazingly convenient. I do miss my spellcheck plug-in for IE, but other than that, FF is great!

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7 years ago

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[info]friedtoast

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[info]lo_spettro

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[info]ankh156

June 30 2004, 00:49:19 UTC 7 years ago

Good, clear explanation.

Thanks.

[info]myfriendjacki

July 10 2004, 07:38:40 UTC 7 years ago

Re: Good, clear explanation.

im answering your post
will you be my g/f

[info]meinterrupted

June 30 2004, 00:49:48 UTC 7 years ago

Yes, bring them over to the dark side of OS X and Linux.... yesss...

*cough* Ahem! Oh, sorry about that. ^_^

An article that might interest the readers of this post: eWeek: IE too dangerous to use.

[info]rhye

June 30 2004, 08:12:25 UTC 7 years ago

Yes. There is NOTHING WRONG with advocating a switch to Linux.

[info]mercury_glitch

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[info]fox2mike

June 30 2004, 00:51:33 UTC 7 years ago

Very true. And a nice call not to run IE. IE & Outlook taken out of the picture will probably stop half the virii & worms running around today.

[info]technoshaman

June 30 2004, 21:44:23 UTC 7 years ago

Try about nine tenths. But, yeah. I wouldn't mind people running Windows so badly if they knew how to take care of their boxen... firewall, AV and anti-spyware, and Mozilla or Opera. That simple. But noooooo *sigh*

[info]dev_null

June 30 2004, 00:51:58 UTC 7 years ago

As far as firewalls, I'd recommend Zone Alarm. It's one of the best ones out there, and it's free.

[info]diffrentcolours

June 30 2004, 02:05:53 UTC 7 years ago

Zone Alarm has had a pretty crappy security history, and seems a bit clunky to me. I use Sygate Personal Firewall and am totally happy with it (having stress-tested it by putting a machine on a network infested with worms and not been troubled by a single one). It is also free.

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[info]spazure_archive

June 30 2004, 00:52:46 UTC 7 years ago

hurray for m$ alternatives!

[info]myfriendjacki

July 10 2004, 07:39:36 UTC 7 years ago

i fill sorry for you as i am the only person that has replied

[info]onia

June 30 2004, 00:54:13 UTC 7 years ago

There are those of us Windows users who have always run AdAware, anti-virus and firewalls (ZoneAlarm.. while not perfect, it's something).

Just wanted to chime that in, if for no other reason than to make the irresponsible Windows users feel bad. ;)

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[info]rachelmap

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[info]cottontimer

June 30 2004, 00:54:35 UTC 7 years ago

This situation must have been very stressful for all of you. I do want to say, however, that it would be close to impossible for some of us to cease using Microsoft products. Most of us are not so computer savvy that we would be able to switch to Linux or to another internet browser. And, most of us are slaves to the platforms that our current or future employers use.

Some possible solutions might include Microsoft getting their butt in gear to improve the overall stability of the internet. But, we know those money grubbers don't have that so high up on the priority list. I don't know anything about computers really, but could there be a change in the infrastructure to prevent these kinds of attacks as well as others?

[info]perimus

June 30 2004, 01:28:20 UTC 7 years ago

It's very easy to install and use firefox. http://www.mozilla.org/firefox it's now a mere 4.7MB download, and installs as easily as any other software.

It's also got better features, better reliability, but best of all it's for the greater good of all mankind!

You could probably have been up and running on firefox quicker than you could have posted this comment! Plz give it a try!

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[info]miluda

June 30 2004, 00:56:46 UTC 7 years ago

Opera okay?

[info]kumokasumi

June 30 2004, 01:24:22 UTC 7 years ago

Yes.

[info]adcott

7 years ago

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[info]astral365

June 30 2004, 00:57:37 UTC 7 years ago

Great timing by me, I downloaded Firefox last night to speed up my browsing! :D

Good luck catching those morons. With the FBI on your side, it shouldn't take long.

[info]asgard

June 30 2004, 00:59:46 UTC 7 years ago

Am a big fan of Spybot, but then it's always good to get a "second opinion" ;)
Goodluck in catching the fool/s.
I could never understand people like that.

[info]thette

June 30 2004, 04:01:28 UTC 7 years ago

The combination Spyware S&D and AdAware (and a decent virus program) works wonders.

[info]decadence1

7 years ago

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[info]murasadramon

7 years ago

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7 years ago

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[info]esmeltz

June 30 2004, 00:59:57 UTC 7 years ago

thanks for the info
i was wondering why i couldnt get my client and browser to log in

esmeltz

[info]dev_null

June 30 2004, 01:00:32 UTC 7 years ago

Heh, if there's one thing I can't stand, it's punks who can't even make their own knives. ;)

[info]jellybeanhippie

June 30 2004, 15:16:40 UTC 7 years ago

Lol. I was wondering about that when I read it... : )

[info]techieguru

June 30 2004, 01:02:42 UTC 7 years ago

Http://status.livejournal.org was also down for awhile...same guy?

[info]lxe

June 30 2004, 01:07:08 UTC 7 years ago

When??

[info]justgoto

7 years ago

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7 years ago

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[info]braindancer

7 years ago

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7 years ago

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[info]fundabonka

June 30 2004, 01:08:59 UTC 7 years ago

Thanx for the status reply. Hopefully you guys sort it out soon. :)
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