Full Disclosure mailing list archives
Re: Why is IRC still around?
From: Mister Coffee <live4java () stormcenter net>
Date: Fri, 19 Nov 2004 12:17:09 -0800
Danny wrote:
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?
>And? There are a hell of a lot of "normal" users on IRC too who don't wreck havoc. A lot of spam comes in email. Does that make email bad?
2) A considerable amount of "script kiddies" originate and grow through IRC?
>And AIM, ICQ, Jabber, web-forums, mailing lists, etc. IRC is one medium amungst many.
Some, perhaps. But unlike, say BitTorrent or Kazaa, IRC's primary role is communication rather than file transfer. You could make the same argument for ANY of the IM clients that support file transfer.3) A wee bit of software piracy occurs?
4) That many organized DoS attacks through PC zombies are initiated through IRC?
>Many do. Yes. But many also originate through other media, and, again, it's not the medium's fault that people use it for nefarious purposes. Hitmen get calls on their cell phones. Should we eliminate cell phones to stop the hitmen?
Anonymity is not a bad thing in many, man, respects. And the list of legitimate uses goes on and on as well.5) The anonymity of the whole thing helps to foster all the illegal and malicious activity that occurs? The list goes on and on...
No offense. But the arguments aren't especially strong. We're not pushing to sunset the IRC protocol because there are still thousands and thousands of -legitimate- users in the world. Unlike most IM systems, the IRC nets are completely independant. There are some serious advantages to that.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?
Yes?IRC is a protocol. A tool like any other. Last I looked there were still hundreds to thousands of IRC users at any given time who were there just to hang out and BS with their friends. It's still a valid "community" if you will, in spite of the nefarious uses other people have put it to.
If you sunset something like IRC, the 3v1L h@X0r3z will just move their bots and trojans somewhere else.
...D
Cheers, L4J _______________________________________________ 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? Jeff Donahue (Nov 19)
- RE: Why is IRC still around? Poof (Nov 19)
- Re: Why is IRC still around? Max Valdez (Nov 20)
- RE: Why is IRC still around? Poof (Nov 19)
- Re: Why is IRC still around? Valdis . Kletnieks (Nov 19)
- Re: Why is IRC still around? shrek (Nov 19)
- Re: Why is IRC still around? shrek (Nov 19)
- Re: Why is IRC still around? huhu (Nov 19)
- Re: Why is IRC still around? Jason (Nov 19)
- Re: Why is IRC still around? james edwards (Nov 19)
- Re: Why is IRC still around? dk (Nov 20)
- Re: Why is IRC still around? Mister Coffee (Nov 19)
- Re: Why is IRC still around? Danny (Nov 19)
- Re: Why is IRC still around? Micheal Espinola Jr (Nov 20)
- Re: Why is IRC still around? Andrew Smith (Nov 20)
- Re: Why is IRC still around? stephane nasdrovisky (Nov 20)
- Re: Why is IRC still around? Michael Rutledge (Nov 19)
- Re: Why is IRC still around? n3td3v (Nov 19)
- Re: Why is IRC still around? (n3td3v is a troll) Steve R (Nov 20)
- Re: Re: Why is IRC still around? (n3td3v is a troll) n3td3v (Nov 21)
- Re: Re: Why is IRC still around? ntx0f (Nov 21)
- Re: Why is IRC still around? n3td3v (Nov 19)
- Re: Why is IRC still around? Jeff Donahue (Nov 19)