QuakeNet: Government-Sponsored Attacks On IRC Networks 197
Barryke writes "Like FreeNode, it seems more and more legitimate businesses or non-profit organizations are being targeted by government subsidiaries in attempts to disrupt and spy on their users. IRC network QuakeNet has posted a press release condemning these efforts. Quoting: 'These attacks are performed without informing the networks and are targeted at users associated with politically motivated movements such as "Anonymous." While QuakeNet does not condone or endorse and actively forbids any illegal activity on its servers we encourage discussion on all topics including political and social commentary. It is apparent now that engaging in such topics with an opinion contrary to that of the intelligence agencies is sufficient to make people a target for monitoring, coercion and denial of access to communications platforms. The released documents depict GCHQ operatives engaging in social engineering of IRC users to entrap themselves by encouraging the target to leak details about their location as well as wholesale attacks on the IRC servers hosting the network. These attacks bring down the IRC network entirely affecting every user on the network as well as the company hosting the server.' One of those tactics applied by governments is the DDOS, which (perhaps not so) coincidentally, is what their suspects are accused of. Is this irony or hypocritical?"
Save Slashdot Classic (Score:5, Interesting)
Shame, I'd actually like to discuss this topic. But, then I'd be jeopardizing every future discussion.
Javascript dancing baloney and giant pretty pictures belong on USA Today, not Slashdot.
The meat of Slashdot, the substance that draws viewers here instead of the alternatives, is the comments. Lose those comments and you will lose the eyeballs. Lose the eyeballs and you will lose the ad revenue.
Alternatively, you can accept that you made a mistake, keep Slashdot classic, and keep the steady flow of cash. Make the right business decision, here, Dice. Don't kill the goose that lays the golden eggs.
Alternative alternative: Dice; make us an offer. If you really have written this thing off, give us your stats so we can crunch the numbers and tell us your price. It should be pretty clear that the path you're on will not be lucrative, so show your lowest and best offer. There's some pretty affluent folks here, and this place is important to us. If the workers at Harley Davidson could do it, surely it is possible for us to do the same.
No legitimate discussion until Slashdot classic is restored. Sacrifice a few days of discussion now to save all the days in the future. The Spirit of Mohdri Dragon [wired.com] Lives! (feel free to get drunk and naked while posting)
Re:Fuck Beta! (Score:5, Interesting)
I've been here since the 90s, what makes you think I'm going to let Mr. Coward tell me how to mod?
Next you'll suggest I read articles! lol
As to the summary, which I skimmed, I already know about the freenode blog that it links, because I'm a freenode user. And the blog doesn't talk about the big bad gubermint DDoSing freenode. Actually it talks about cooperating with law enforcement in handling DDoS attacks, but that there aren't enough resources to track down the command and control servers so nothing is likely to get done on that front.
It is actually some insidious FUD, trying to imply that FOSS == Anonymous, which is totally absurd. Freenode is a white hat IRC network.
Slashdot Clone? (Score:4, Interesting)
Ok, I tried the beta. Yeah its not pretty, the comment section is pretty small width wise, it looks HORRIBLE on my iPad... The client side filtering of comments completely ignores my long time preferences, etc etc.
To the point; Many have asked about cloning Slashdot, and retaking the community site. But has anyone thought about how such a mission could be accomplished? Yes I know I can go grab slashcode and standup a 16 core xeon box to toss on my 100mbps connection. But what about the users, the stories, the comments. We can't just screen scrape those to stand up a new site.
In what possible way could we honestly standup a new slashdot that is community owned?
Brett
Re:Beta feedback helps (Score:4, Interesting)