Server Attack Foiled

[Kati Compton]

I'm normally against integrating things in the OS, like browsers or email clients. But I think the SP2 firewall and a virus-checker would be appropriate... That would solve a lot of the problems. Not all, but a lot.

As for punishing the owners of the zombie machines... I think it'd be difficult to word a law fairly, and that if a law were imposed, it'd end up being grossly misused...

[Kati Compton]

I'm normally against integrating things in the OS, like browsers or email clients. But I think the SP2 firewall and a virus-checker would be appropriate... That would solve a lot of the problems. Not all, but a lot.

As for punishing the owners of the zombie machines... I think it'd be difficult to word a law fairly, and that if a law were imposed, it'd end up being grossly misused...

[GoldKey]

I think if someone is not at least somewhat current on their OS updates, and is running a virus scanner/firewall and has someone up to date definitions, they should be held liable. In fact, this is the liability situation is just the scare tactic I have resorted to using to get stuborn family members to pay more attention to what I have been telling them to do for years.

Just because it is complex does not forgive liability. To me, car repairs are complicated. But if I dont have my car periodically maintained (since I can't do it myself) I should be liable for what occurs.

[Jonathan1]

See that’s the point where you get the Pocket PC Thoughts orbital defense platform to take the SOB out.
There is a smoking crater in downtown Iowa that just suddenly appeared. Why do I get this image of Jason with an Atari 5200 controller and a determined look on his face?!?! 8O

[R K]

Originally Posted by Ed Hansberry

You could contact their ISPs. ISPs hate their users being zombies and attacking/spamming other users. They will take action to help the innocent or crush the intentional behind their network.

Is there an easy way to track down an ISP by IP Address or does one have to start making phonecalls?

I tried using www.arin.net but I don't think that did the trick.

[Jonathan1]

Originally Posted by Goldkey

I think if someone is not at least somewhat current on their OS updates, and is running a virus scanner/firewall and has someone up to date definitions, they should be held liable. In fact, this is the liability situation is just the scare tactic I have resorted to using to get stuborn family members to pay more attention to what I have been telling them to do for years.

Just because it is complex does not forgive liability. To me, car repairs are complicated. But if I dont have my car periodically maintained (since I can't do it myself) I should be liable for what occurs.

Yah but if a car was as inherently insecure as windows we’d have premiums through the roof not to mention break downs every 30 miles. That and tell me why a user should be forced to install third party software to fix security issues in the OS. That's like saying the tires on your new off the line car could pop at any minute so you should go buy new ones immediately. The whole security thing on Windows is just one big racket. AV companies know they have the end user by their family jewels because no one in their right mind runs Windows without AV software at least those who don't have a death wish for their system. As for patches. Yah in a perfect world its as simple as install, reboot and your are done. Until an install goes horribly, horribly wrong. Like what happened to me in Dec. Had to rebuild my PC because a Windows update fragged Windows Update. Seriously. The Windows Update utility simply stopped working. I can’t explain itr but after the reboot I went to install additional components and nothing. I did the troubleshooting, I went to support.Microsoft.com, I even called them up. Nothing fixed the problem.
So don’t make it out like la la la la la...Oooo windows update. WEEEE!!! This will be easy.
When in actuality its more like WINDOWS UPDATE!?!?! AHHHHHH Back everything up!!! DLT my files! Batten down the hatches! Backup the reg! ERD that sucker!! Brace for impact!!
*does his best captain Kirk flying over the railing impersonation*

[OSUKid7]

Originally Posted by R K

Is there an easy way to track down an ISP by IP Address or does one have to start making phonecalls?

Yes, once you know the IP address, it's typically very easy. First try a DNS lookup in (nslookup in Windows), and if that doesn't work, try a whois site, since all IP addresses are sold and must be recorded.

Hmm, I'm still seeing some phpBB Critical Errors.

[safelder]

Originally Posted by Ed Hansberry

Did you drive to a bad part of town, get out of your car and leave the door open with the keys running while you went into the local market to pick up some gum? I'd say in that case, yeah, the owner has some culpability.

Bingo. Were you negligent? And did your negligence casue the harm? If not, no liability. More specifically, did you owe a duty of care to somebody, did you breach that duty of care, were there damages, and did your breach cause the damages?

So it's not entirely true that you're liable if your dog attacks somebody. Nor is it entirely true that every dog gets one free bite.

It'd actually be an interesting argument that all Internet users owe a duty of care to all other Internet users, and a more interesting argument to see what, exactly, one would have to do or not do in order to breach that duty of care. Does the reasonably prudent person use anti-virus software? Updated daily? Weekly? Whatever the default is for automatic updates? Is the reasonably prudent person Bill Gates or my mom?

[stlbud]

Originally Posted by Karen

Well, there are some aspects of existing legislation (I am not a lawyer) that may include such liabilities.

"peer-to-peer file sharing software" means software that once installed
>and launched, enables the user to connect his or her computer to a
>network of other computers on which the users of these computers have
>made available recording or audiovisual works for electronic
>dissemination to other users who are connected to the network."

Sounds a lot like IE or Mozilla, eh?

Karen

Or just about any operating system.

Bill B

[ricksfiona]

Originally Posted by Ed Hansberry

Did you drive to a bad part of town, get out of your car and leave the door open with the keys running while you went into the local market to pick up some gum? I'd say in that case, yeah, the owner has some culpability.

Nope, someone STOLE that car. There is no law against stupidity, but theft is theft.

[Jason Dunn]

I should probably be clear that I don't actually think people should be sued for not running Windows Update. ;-) But it does make for an interesting discussion, which is all I was hoping for.