It looks like Time Warner is hijacking DNS servers for a handful of IRC servers. They are pushing these infected clients to a redirect that runs a script. The script logs them into an irc channel and issues scripts and commands to clean the zombies. Obviously this is their response to botnet traffic that sucks up their bandwith. Is this legal?? I guess you have to fight fire with fire right… Zombies hate fire :)
“It looks like TimeWarner is taking
vigilante action on the botnet problem. They’ve hijacked DNS for a few IRC
servers, the latest being irc.mzima.net and irc.nac.net — both part of EFNet.
(irc.vel.net was hijacked earlier but has been restored.) Using
ns1.sd.cox.net, the lookup returns an IP for what looks to be a script that
forces the user into a channel and issues a set of commands to clean the drones.
There have been different reports of other
IRC networks being hijacked and other DNS servers involved. Is this the
right way to handle the botnet problem? Is hijacking DNS legal?” [SlashDot] Original
Story – [Wired]
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they are doing it for the greater good of internet users everywhere so i think its fair and that means the gov’t will think it is bad and fine them or something.
I agree, this is too forward thinking and proactive to be accepted by current ‘standards and practices’
Time Warner has been doing good in helping their customers get protected from internet threats. I used to have a free CAISS (Computer Associates Internet Security Suite) from them. And in case I will have a problem with the DNS, they are just a call away. Their tier 2 support are the best.
I called them before with a non internet related problem I had with my computer and the agent helped me well eventhough I know it was far from his scope of support.
martha
I also totally agree with it. It is a kind of a proactive and preventive measure that many of the service providers follow. It is for the better of the internet users. The service provider companies are not going to gain any thing if they take such steps. Seriously, there is no monetary gains in it.