Re: I'm being attacked, now what?

[Tremaine Lea <Tremaine () cavelier net>]

I think I might be able to shed some unique insight into this one, although I 
have to say Bob has the right of it.  

I work in the AUP department of one the larger ISP's in North America.  
Ideally what we like to see is a time/date stamped log that shows the 
attacking IP address, along with source and destination port.  Big hint... 
don't submit multiple IP's in one complaint.  It makes our job harder.  And 
if you really want to win our attention, have a short description of the 
problem in the subject.  Your's may not be the only attack to be reported 
regarding that IP, and we love it when we can group them <g>

ie Subject : IP address/ tcp portscan

Or something along those lines.  Oh yeah, and don't swear at us.  We 
eventually have to contact the 'offender' and we take enough abuse from them! 
 A great many of the complaints we recieve turn out to be as a result of a 
compromised machine being used as a zombie.  So please don't assume that the 
IP attacking you is the genuine source of the attack.  At the very least you 
are helping secure one more machine on the internet, thereby closing it off 
to a hacker or s'kiddie.

About the only other thing I can suggest is do a bit of research before you 
submit the info to us.  You can't imagine how frustrating it is to recieve a 
blistering letter from someone demanding we 'take down and eliminate' a user 
because they had the audacity to ping someones machine... once.  Weigh the 
severity of the attack and report accordingly.  A couple of 'icmp 
unreachables' do not an attack make ;)



On Friday 15 June 2001 17:00, Bob Staaf wrote:
> Paul,
>
>      The technical contact should but good and most ISPs have an email
> address similar to abuse () domain com or webmaster () domain com or visit the
> ISP website and check to see how to report network abuse, most have that
> info on their site.  I usually attach the corresponding parts of the log
> with my IP anonymousified so they can see the details of the attack.
>
> Bob
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Sheahan, Paul (PCLN-NW)" <Paul.Sheahan () priceline com>
> To: "'Bob Staaf '" <rstaaf () cfl rr com>; "Sheahan, Paul (PCLN-NW)"
> <Paul.Sheahan () priceline com>; <Snort-users () lists sourceforge net>
> Sent: Friday, June 15, 2001 6:47 PM
> Subject: RE: [Snort-users] I'm being attacked, now what?
>
> > I agree with you Bob....I have a LOT of other things I need to be doing
> > rather than whining to ISPs all day. Typically, where are complaints
> > sent, to the technical contact who owns the address space or
> > "security () isp com"
>
> or
>
> > something similar? Would it be a good idea to include sniffer traces with
> > the complaint? What info is best to send over?
> >
> > Thanks again!
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Bob Staaf
> > To: Sheahan, Paul (PCLN-NW); Snort-users () lists sourceforge net
> > Sent: 6/15/01 4:05 PM
> > Subject: Re: [Snort-users] I'm being attacked, now what?
> >
> > Paul,
> >
> >      I started out in the beginning whining to every ISP I could track
> > down.
> > You would have to hire a person full time do that if that is what you
> > wanted
> > to do.  I typically whine if they scan more than a 3 or 4 ports on any
> > one
> > server at once.  I also whine if they do certain types of scans that a
> > typical script kiddie wouldn't be running.  You might also want to
> > complain
> > if you see the same IP hitting your server day after day after day even
> > if
> > they only do one scan once a day, they may be trying to be
> > inconspicuous,
> > hoping you will miss them.  Just some of the things to think about.  You
> > might want to look at something to help manage the logs like Acid or
> > some
> > other product, it will make the job much easier to spot trends.
> >      You know your management better than anyone but, the BEST security
> > measure you can take is knowing what is going on with your network and
> > keeping a close eye on the logs is one of the best ways to do that.
> >
> > Hope this helps
> >
> > Bob Staaf
> > Southern Web Services
> > Orlando, Fl
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Sheahan, Paul (PCLN-NW)" <Paul.Sheahan () priceline com>
> > To: <Snort-users () lists sourceforge net>
> > Sent: Friday, June 15, 2001 3:12 PM
> > Subject: [Snort-users] I'm being attacked, now what?
> >
> > > I wanted to get some feedback from others out there on how they handle
> > > attacks, whether successful or unsuccessful. I see what appears to be
> >
> > valid
> >
> > > attacks in small numbers from random machines. Occasionally, I see
> >
> > tons of
> >
> > > different attacks coming from ONE machine. Though all attacks are
> > > unsuccessful, when does someone scream to the ISP to tell them to stop
> >
> > their
> >
> > > client, and when does one just ignore it?
> > >
> > > It would obviously be VERY time consuming (and a waste of time) to
> >
> > send
> >
> > > complaints to every ISP. What do people recommend out there....maybe
> >
> > only
> >
> > > send a complaint when attacks from one node become ridiculously large,
> >
> > or
> > if
> >
> > > they successfully break in?
> > >
> > > The logs are nice to have, but I know management will ask what are we
> >
> > doing
> >
> > > about the attacks we are seeing and what is the time you are spending
> > > maintaining the IDS server doing for the company?
> > >
> > > Thanks
> > >
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>
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-- 
Tremaine Lea

Doing things the hard way.  Every time.

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