RE: Why is IRC still around?

["Bowes, Ronald (EST)" <RBowes () gov mb ca>]

How exactly do you propose to accomplish this?  IRC is an open protocol and
there are many open clients and open servers which can run on any port, and
run encrypted with SSL.  

So do you intend to scan every computer on the Internet on port 6667, and
shut down every server found running, the move on to random ports that
zombies probably use, and start attacking sites that provide open source
clients that use an open protocol?

Your suggestion makes no sense, and it's something that's impossible to
implement.  Why not just make knives illegal?  I mean, they're frequently
used as a weapon, right?


Ron Bowes
Information Protection Centre
Government Of Manitoba


-----Original Message-----
From: Danny [mailto:nocmonkey () gmail com] 
Sent: Friday, November 19, 2004 11:40 AM
To: Mailing List - Full-Disclosure
Subject: [Full-disclosure] Why is IRC still around?

Well, it sure does help the anti-virus (anti-malware) and security
consulting business, but besides that... is it not safe to say that:

1) A hell of a lot of viruses/worms/trojans use IRC to wreck further havoc?
2) A considerable amount of "script kiddies" originate and grow through IRC?
3) A wee bit of software piracy occurs?
4) That many organized DoS attacks through PC zombies are initiated through
IRC?
5) The anonymity of the whole thing helps to foster all the illegal
and malicious activity that occurs?
The list goes on and on...

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?

...D

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Full-Disclosure - We believe in it.
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_______________________________________________
Full-Disclosure - We believe in it.
Charter: http://lists.netsys.com/full-disclosure-charter.html