Full Disclosure mailing list archives
Re: Why is IRC still around?
From: Chris Umphress <umphress () gmail com>
Date: Fri, 19 Nov 2004 12:58:53 -0800
1) A hell of a lot of viruses/worms/trojans use IRC to wreck further havoc?
yes, some do. The three most common forms of viral use of IRC that I see are: 1. Virus/worm/trojan writers have it connect to a server and notify a channel that it has infected xx.xx.xx.xx. This is an attempt to keep the virus writer anonymous. 2. mIRC scripts (I'm not going to say more) 3. bot nets which are a form of DoS attack.
2) A considerable amount of "script kiddies" originate and grow through IRC?
True, but some of our experts gain some of their knowlege from IRC as well. It's a two-way street.
3) A wee bit of software piracy occurs?
yes, but people also have Kazaa (FastTrack), Nuttella, FTP, warez sites, and Newsgroups.
4) That many organized DoS attacks through PC zombies are initiated through IRC?
This goes back to mIRC scripting. The ones that don't would be able to check a website/blog/wiki to look for commands.
5) The anonymity of the whole thing helps to foster all the illegal and malicious activity that occurs? The list goes on and on...
Anything on the Internet has a certain level of anonymity that is available. There are proxies, temporary e-mail accounts, etc.
Sorry to offend those that use IRC legitimately (LOL - find something else to chat with your buddies), but why the hell are we not pushing to sunset IRC? What would IT be like today without IRC (or the like)? Am I narrow minded to say that it would be a much safer place?
I'm not offended. IRC has the ability to let you hold a "conference" with people from all over the world. Or to just have fun. Sure there are other chatting platforms that could be used, but they aren't as flexible. If IRC were to suddenly stop existing, Bulletin boards and Wiki would become even more popular. Most of them allow the same level of anonymity that IRC gives to people. Or some poor soul's blog would be overrun with "comments". Unfortunately, all of the things you have listed as the downside to IRC would happen anyway. My 2c worth -- Chris Umphress <http://daga.dyndns.org/> _______________________________________________ Full-Disclosure - We believe in it. Charter: http://lists.netsys.com/full-disclosure-charter.html
Current thread:
- Re: Why is IRC still around?, (continued)
- Re: Why is IRC still around? Tim (Nov 19)
- Re: Why is IRC still around? Danny (Nov 20)
- Re: Why is IRC still around? chris neitzert (Nov 20)
- Re: Why is IRC still around? Danny (Nov 20)
- Re: Why is IRC still around? Geo. (Nov 21)
- Re: Why is IRC still around? Steve R (Nov 20)
- RE: Re: Why is IRC still around? Poof (Nov 21)
- Re: Why is IRC still around? Steve R (Nov 22)